




































-f 

»yr 

> ' 

• 

4 O 

■<£' y<V 


.0' cfV-r '% ^ 

s 





- . ■/ ^ 

‘ » "V <* '^ o . _ 

<1* ♦ jfV/A^?T> V 

" 'J* ** Jk ^ ' 

• ^(y 

lO V*. • * 4 o 

°^ •■’ A° 'v ♦..«’ ^ q. ♦rr. 

fc'' -'A'i'- ^ '> -yi' %. 


" o • * 

> r\^ 0 •• o 

> » 4 V - 


h° ^ 




> * "vA ^ 
^ 0^ 








•*,/ V 



y °-». * — • -5^° 

^ ^ • o, C^ 

* /X '-^m/ 


o ♦ A 



cf> '^f. 

* 

* ' aV'’ '*’ • * ' ' 4 ^ 

« t < « r\' e " o 

A ♦V/y 7 ^ 5 »>‘' ^ ^ ^ 

u» .v *• "* ’'f* ■C* ' 

- • )P 'T, * ’ Ho * 

' N.' *■ c^yz/yj^ * 

z ^ ■* * i}L^ O * 'txA' j 

® *'0^0^ ^zy o^ *'•,-»• 



/ 1 








• * A * /\ ^ 

\ V , V ' » ^ O^ c ° " ° -♦ O .*•'•>. 

.H T-. . .-.ssSSXhV. W'*’ *‘ 


A 


>° V 





- o „ o ^ <J,^ 

♦ ♦ - "s. ^ V 




^ -r^ J J f ♦ r\ 

V "’• „f° ... A*--' 



♦AA 


o‘ s*:.*'. 




.0 
























Beckley-Cardy Company 
H CHICAGO 




CHOICE ENTERTAINMENTS 


Prepared especially for school use, and particularly for 
Friday afternoons and special day exercises. 

DIALOGUES AND CHILDREN’S PLAYS 

DiaiogTaes and Plays for Entertainment Days—^Painton.40 

District-School Dialogues—Irish .40 

The Golden Goose—Guptill. 15 

Humorous Dialogues for Children—Irish.40 

Specialty Entertainments for Little Folks—Painton.4t 

Twelve Plays for Children—Guptill.. .4b 

RECITATIONS 

Best P'.dmary Recitations—Hoag.... ^ 

DRILLS AND ACTION SONGS 

faumorous Drills and Acting Songs—Irish.. 

i 

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENTS 

Rummage—Race . .2S 

Dncle rfaiu, P. M—Race.. .25 

SPECIAL DAV ENTERTAINMENTS 

The Best Christmas Book—Sindeiar.. .40 

The Best Thanksgiving Book—Sindeiar.... .40 

Christmas at Stebbinses’—Irish.25 

Closing Day Entertainments—Sindeiar.40 

Merry Christmas Entertainments—Sindeiar.40 

Polly in History-Land, or Glimpses ot Washington—Paintorx,. .2J 

Susan Gregg’s Christmas Orphans—Irish. 25 

, PLAyS 

The Great Turkey-Stealing Case ot Watermelon County—Gra- 

nam. 25 

The Last Half-Day in the District School—Fraser-Higgins.35 

The" Prize Essay, or “Boy Wanted”—Painton.35 

The value ot X—^Painton. 35 

Illustrated Catalog ol Books mailed free upon request. 


BECKLEY-C4RDY COMPANY,Pi/hy<.s/»,ers,CHICAOO 





























LITTLE PLAYS FOR 
CHRISTMAS 


BY 

Ada Clark, Margaret Kibbe 
Eebecca Rice, Alice Whitson Norton 
Anna Williams Arnett 



BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
CHICAGO 





PN 6120 
CsCsz 


Copyright 1928 by 
BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 



©CU 3399 

I 


Made in U. S. A. 

OEC 29 1928 


CONTENTS 


FOR THE SMALLER CHILDREN 

PAGE 

A Christmas Joke . Ada Clarh 5 

Four small boys. 


The Twins ^ Christmas . Ada Clark 8 

Seven boys and three girls. 

Is Santa Coming? . Margaret Kihhe 11 

Three boys and four girls. 

A Surprise for Santa . Margaret Eibhe 14 

Four boys and three girls. 

Choosing A Dokl. . Alice Whitson Norton 18 

Seventeen girls and eleven boys. 

The Toy Shop Mix-Up .. Alice Whitson Norton 23 

Four boys and three girls, all ages. 


The Fairies and a Christmas Tree—An Acrostic. 

. Alice Whitson Norton 32 

Eleven girls and one boy. 


Christmas Time at Santa ^s Headquarters. 

.^. Alice Whitson Norton 40 

Eight boys and five girls. 


FOR THE INTERMEDIATE AND LARGER CHILDREN 


Christmas Eve on the Trolley Car . Alice Whitson Norton 49 

Any number of boys and girls, from ten to twenty-eight, all ages. 

The King’s Choice . Anna Williams Arnett 60 

Any number of children, with speaking parts for eight. 


Putting on the School Play. 

(Suggestions to teachers.) 




Rebecca Rice 64 
















4 


CONTENTS 


The Fairies’ Christmas Party. Behecca Bice 67 

Five boys and eleven girls. 

The Light in the Window. Behecca Bice 'll 

Four girls and two boys. 

The Christmas Eve Prince. Behecca Bice 85 

Six boys and one girl. 

Evelyn’s Christmas Lesson. Behecca Bice 95 

Four boys and four girls. 


A Present for Joy..... Behecca Bice 101 

Four boys and nine girls. 

Hildegarde Lilian. Behecca Bice 111 

One boy and seven girls. 

Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Reception. Behecca Bice 123 


Nine boys and eleven girls. 


The New Common-School Song Book, mentioned in several of the 
plays, may be procured from the publishers of this book for 70 cents 
postpaid. This book supplies all of the music required. 


9 










LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


A CHRISTMAS JOKE 

CHARACTERS 


Billie. 

Bobbie .... 

Max. 

An Elf who aids Santa Claus 

Scene : In front of the Christmas tree. 

Discovered : Billie seated on a chair with his head on the 
table as if asleep. 

Enter Bobbie. 

Bobbie. Hello, Billie! What’s the matter now ? Wake up 1 

Billie [yawning]. I’ve tried to stay awake and watch for 
Santa Claus, for he surely will be here tonight; but I’ve 
waited and waited until I’m so sleepy. [Yawns and falls 
asleep again.] 

Bobbie. Well, go to sleep, then. I don’t think he’ll be 
here, anyway. I heard Tommy Jones say he was getting 
too big to believe in Santa Claus. I’m almost as big as 
he is, and I think I know just about as much, too. So, 
away with such silliness! I’m going to sit right here until 
that candle burns out and then I ’ll know he isn’t coming. 
[Takes a seat at the table.] 

Enter Max whistling. 

Max. Hello, Bobbie! What’s the matter with Billie? Is 
he sick? 


. three small boys 

J ' 


5 





6 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Bobbie. No, he has a silly notion that Santa Claus is com¬ 
ing here tonight and he has been trying to stay awake and 
see him. 

Max. Well, he is coming. I saw his reindeer team at Mr. 
Brown’s as I came by. But he’ll never come until we 
are all fast asleep; so we’d better go to bed, or he’ll pass 
us by. 

Bobbie. No, I refuse to go to bed. If he comes here, I want 
to see him. Then I can tell Tommy Jones he isn’t so 
smart after all. 

Max. Well, then, if you won’t go, we must plan some way 
to fool Santa Claus and his helpers. Better think fast. 
Bobbie. I’ve been thinking. If we could dress up like 
Christmas toys, he’d never guess. He’d come right in 
and fill our stockings and we could see him. 

Max. That’s a bright idea. I’ll be a Teddy bear. 

Bobbie [rising to his feet]. And I’ll be a big wax doll 
with curly hair, one that will cry, ^‘Ma-ma!” 

Billie [raising his head]. Oh! I heard you. I don’t 
w^ant to be a toy. But I ’ll be the old house cat that sleeps 
by the fire. 

Max. Then hurry! Let’s all go upstairs and dress up. 
[The three hoys hasten from the stage.] 

Enter Bobbie dressed as a wax doll. 

Enter Max dressed as a Teddy hear. 

Enter Billie dressed as a hlack cat. 

Bobbie stands primly heside the tree. 

Max seats himself in a chair. 

Billie crosses the stage on all fours, mewing like a cat. 

He curls up on the table as if asleep. 

A rap is heard at the door. The children turn to look, hut 
immediately resume their positions. 

Enter the Elf, dressed in green suit and cap. 


A CHRISTMAS JOKE 


7 


Elf. Ho! Ho! what’s all this? [Turns the doll around 
and examines it carefully. Bends its body forward. Doll 
cries ^‘Ma-ma!^^ Takes hold of Teddy bear’s paw and 
shakes hands. Teddy hear growls. Pulls cat’s tail. Cat 
mews piteously.] 

Elf [looking bewildered]. There must be some mistake. 
Santa Claus has not been here yet. I am one of his help¬ 
ers. He sent me to see that all the children were fast 
asleep. But who brought these toys? [Examines doll 
again. Doll cries ‘‘Ma-ma!” Elf removes doll’s cap 
and discovers Bobbie. Turns Teddy bear’s cap back from 
face and discovers Max. Pulls cat’s tail off. Billie 
jumps up.] 

Elf. Well, well! So you boys have been trying to fool 
Santa Claus. That is a good joke. But if he finds you 
here, he’ll not leave you a single present. So scamper 
away as fast as you can, and go to bed, for I hear his 
sleigh bells at the door. Good-by, dear little hoys, 
good-by. 

[Children hurry from stage. Elf skips away.] 

—Ada Clark 


8 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


THE TWINS’ CHRISTMAS 

CHAEACTEES 


Kathryn and Nell 


the twins 


Santa Claus . a hoy in regulation Santa costume 

The Sandman . a hoy dressed in tan suit and hat 

Josephine . girl dressed as a doll 

Alton . a hoy dressed as a white rahhit 


Kenneth 
Eldon .. 
Hale ... 
Harley . 


elves who are Santa Claus* helpers. 
They should he dressed in close- 
fitting green suits and caps. 


Scene: The twins* bedroom, a small hed on one side and 
a Christmas tree on the other. 

Josephine, in crepe paper dress and fancy cap, stands 
primly heside the tree. 

The Rabbit enters and, after hopping about, takes place 
heside the tree. 

Enter Elves, skipping. 

Kenneth. 

Hurry elves, the cold winds blow. 

And Santa’s sleigh flies o’er the snow. 

Harley. 

To help old Santa is a joy; 

I know he’ll please each girl and boy. 

Eldon. 

The children will not have long to wait, 

For I hear his sleigh bells at the gate. 

Enter the Twins, dressed in white nightgowns. 












THE TWINS’ CHRISTMAS 


9 


Twins. 

Where is Santa, Santa dear? 
We dreamed that he was here. 


Harley. 

Well, weU, well, who art thou? 
Run, run! I ’ll tell thee now. 

Kathryn. 

I am Kathryn; she is Nell. 

We are twins. Can’t you tell? 

Alton [hopping across stage on all fours]. 
Squee! squee! what do I see ? 
Two naughty girls, squee! squee! 


Twins. 

We’re not naughty girls, 0 Rabbit, dear! 
’Twas to look for Santa that we came here. 

Josephine. 

Run, little girls, or you will find 

That Santa will think you most unkind. 

Nell [crying]. 

Oh! dear me, why isn’t he here ? 

Will he ever come, Kathryn, dear? 


Kathryn. 

Hush, little sister, don’t you cry. 
For Santa will be here, by and by. 


Harley. 

He ’ll never come while here you stay; 

Go back to your beds, away! away 1 

[The Twins go to hed, hut are restless. The Sandman 
enters and as he scatters sand sings.] 


10 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CPIRISTMAS 


Sandman [sings]. Tune: Yankee Doodle 

Sandman loves the boys and girls, 

Sandman is a dandy; 

Sandman puts them fast asleep 
To dream of dolls and candy 

[The Twins sleep soundly.] 

[Exit Sandman.] 

[Enter Santa Claus with a large hag of presents. The 
Elves help him hang the presents on the tree.] 

Santa Claus. 

Dear little elves, we must haste away, 

Back to the Northland, before it is day. 

Exit Santa Claus, followed hy the Elves. 
[Kathryn wakes and tries to waken Nell.] 

Kathryn. 

Wake, little Nell, let’s go and see 

What Santa has left on our Christmas tree. 

Nell [rising and pointing toward the sun]. 

Oh! Yes, Kathryn, there shines the sun; 

Jump out of bed and away we’ll run. 

[They run to the tree and examine the presents Santa 
Claus has left.] 

Twins. 

And here we are at the Christmas tree 1 
There’re heaps of presents for you and me. 

And some for others; let’s hurry, dear, 

And bring dear daddy and mother here. 

Exit the Twins, running. 


—Ada Clark 


IS SANTA COMING? 


11 


IS SANTA COMING? 

CHARACTEES 

Dot and Joe . little sister and brother 

Mother - a larger girl, in a long dress with apron and cap 

May . a tiny little girl 

Will .a little hoy 

Santa Claus . a fat hoy in Santa suit 

Christmas Fairy. .. .a graceful little girl in white with 
gaiize wings 

Discovered : Dot and Joe sitting in the living-room, Dot 
rocking her doll and Joe drawing pictures. 

Joe. 0 Dot, I don’t want to draw a picture of a train. 
I want a real train that runs on a track! 

Dot. And I am tired of rocking my doll. I want a little 
table and a set of dishes, so I can have a tea party. I can 
hardly wait for Santa to come and bring them. 

Joe. Well, this is Christmas Eve, and if Santa comes, you 
will not have to wait long. 

Dot. If Santa comes. Why, Joe, Santa always comes! 

J OE. I know he always has come. Dot; but Charlie Curtis 
told Will and me that he didn’t think Santa would come 
this year. 

Dot. Oh, dear! It will not be Christmas without Santa. 
Why isn’t he coming this year, just as he always does? 

Joe. Well, Charlie says that Santa Claus is getting too 
old to travel so far. You know he has been coming to see 
the children for many, many years. 

Dot. I know it, Joe, and I guess he is pretty tired. But 
what will we do without him ? Oh, dear! 

Joe. I don’t know what we can do, Dot. Here comes 
Mother. 






12 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Enter Mother. 

Mother. Here are your stockings, children. You must 
hang them up and then get ready for bed. It is almost 
time for Santa to come. If he should come and find you 
awake, he would go on without filling your stockings. 

Dot and Joe. 0 Mother, is Santa Claus really coming 
again this year ? 

Mother. Why, I suppose so. He always does come to see 
good children. Hurry up, now, and get ready for bed. 
[Exit.] 

Dot. Well, Joe, Mother hasn’t heard about it, so maybe 
it is a mistake. 

Joe. Maybe it is, but Charlie is older than we are and his 
daddy has been away up North where Santa Claus lives. 
It looks as if Charlie ought to know. He told Will and 
me about it this afternoon. 

Dot. Well, if Santa Claus isn’t coming, it isn’t any Hse 
to hang up our stockings. I wonder if Will and little 
May are going to hang up their stockings. 

Joe. Will said he guessed he would not hang his, but I 
told him that if he didn’t hang it, Santa Claus would 
pass him by if he did come. 

Dot. That’s right, Joe. Let us hang up our stockings. 
Mother has them all ready. [They hang their stockings 
at the fireplace. If a fireplace cannot he arranged, a 
string may he put up near hy and the stockings pinned 
to it,] 

Enter Will and little May. 

Joe. Why, hello. Will! Why aren’t you in bed ? Did you 
hang up your stockings? 

Will. Yes, I thought you were right, Joe. If Santa should 
come and find no stockings, he would think there were 
no children there and would not leave any presents. I 
see you hung yours up, too. 


IS SANTA COMING? 


13 


Joe. Yes, and we were just going to get ready for bed. 

It is almost time for Santa to come. 

Will. Say, Joe, let’s just sit here and keep quiet for a 
few minutes.- Maybe we will hear the bells from Santa’s 
sleigh. Then we will know he is coming. 

Joe. All right. But we must not talk, for if Santa should 
hear us, he would not come in. 

May. Oh, no, we must keep still. 

[Children sit down and'keep quiet. By and hy they 
begin to nod and soon all are asleep.] 

Enter Santa. 

Santa. Heigh-ho! Look here! Children up yet ? But 
they have not seen me, for they are asleep. I must send 
the Christmas Fairy to put them to bed. [Exit.] 

Enter Christmas Fairy. She skips up to the children 
and gently awakens them. 

Christmas Fairy. Wake up! Why, children, don’t you 
know that it is time for you to go to bed? Santa Claus 
will never come until you do 1 
Will. We heard that Santa was not coming this year. 
Is he really coming? 

Fairy. Yes, he is coming, with his pack full of candy and 
toys. 

Children [jumping up and clapping their hands]. Oh, 
good, Santa is coming! 

Will. We must go home. May. 

May [crying]. Oh, boo-hoo, boo-hoo! It is so dark, I’m 
afraid to go home. 

Will. The Christmas Fairy will take us home, May. 
Fairy. Yes, come with me. I will take you home. 

[The Fairy, Will and May start toward the door. The 
Fairy turns and waves to Dot and Joe.] 


14 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Fairy. Good night and Merry Christmas, children. 

Dot and Joe. Good night, Fairy. 

All the Children. Hurrah for the Christmas Fairy! 
Hurrah for Santa Claus! 

Exeunt. 

—Margaret Kihhe 


A SURPRISE FOR SANTA 

CHAEACTEES 


Jack and Walter. . two little brothers 

Sue and Jane . their little sisters 

Mother, .a larger girl, in long dress, apron and house-cap 

Father ... .a larger hoy, in long trousers. A mustache adds 
to this character 

Santa Claus, .a fat hoy, in red Santa suit, carrying a pack 
Enter Jack and Walter. 

Jack. Say, Walter, we’d better be getting our stockings 
hung. It is almost time for Santa to come. 

Walter. Yes, we must hurry. Where are the girls? 

Jack. They have been getting the stockings ready. I 
will call them. [Goes to door and calls.] Sue and Jane, 
where are you? 

Enter two girls carrying stockings. 

Sue. Here are the stockings, and there is not a single 
hole left in any of them. We have mended every tiny 
hole! 

Walter. That is fine, girls. Santa ought to give you an 
extra piece of candy for working so hard. 

Jane. Well, Santa will soon be coming. I am afraid he 
will get pretty cold, for it is a cold night. 




A SURPRISE FOR SANTA 


15 


Jack. Let us build a warm fire, so he can get warm while 
he fills the stockings. 

Sue. Oh, no. Jack! We can’t do that, for if the chimney 
is hot, Santa will get burned. 

Jack. That’s right. I never thought of that. But I wish 
we could do something for Santa. He is so good to us 
every year. 

Jane. I know what we can do. We can hang a stocking 
for Santa Claus and fill it full of nice things. That will 
make him happy and he will forget he is so cold. 

Sue. That is a good idea, Jane. But we have no stocking 
mended that is big enough for Santa 1 We ought to hang 
the biggest one we can find! 

Walter. Yes, it must be big and filled full. Why not 
borrow a stocking from Mother? 

Jane. That will be the very thing! I will call Mother 
and see if she will lend us a stocking. [She goes to the 
door and calls.] 

Enter Mother. 

Sue. Mother, we want to hang a stocking for Santa, and 
fill it to the very top. May we borrow one of your 
stockings ? 

Mother. Why, yes, children. It is very nice for you to 
remember Santa. I am sure it will make his bright eyes 
twinkle. Come, Sue, and I will give you the stocking. 

Exit Mother and Sue. 

Jack. Now, while Sue is getting the stocking, let us plan 
what we will put in it. 

Walter. I am going to put my baseball in the very toe! 

Jane. And I will put in my red beads and my new pocket- 
book ! 

Jack. I will put in my blue top and the big red apple 
Grandma gave me this afternoon. 


16 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Jane. Well, if Sue puts in something, the stocking will 
be about full. 

Enter Sue with the stocking. 

Walter. We have all planned what we will put in. Sue. 

What will you put in? 

Sue. My doll with the red dress on! 

Jane. That will be fine. Let us get the things and hang 
the stocking. 

[Sue hangs the stocking. Each child gets his gift and 
puts it in the stocking.] 

Jack. We would better write a note and pin it on the 
stocking to tell Santa this is for him. 

Jane. Yes, I will get a paper and pencil. I will write— 
“Dear Santa: The big stocking is for you. We put our 
very nicest things in it, and we hope you will like it. 
Merry Christmas!” 

Walter. That is fine, Jane. Now, pin the note on the 
stocking, so Santa will be sure to see it. And let’s hang 
our stockings with Santa’s. 

Ejiter Father. 

Father. Well, children, are the stockings all hung and 
ready for Santa? Why, what is this? It looks as if 
Santa had already been here! • 

Jack. Oh, no. Father. Read the note on the stocking. 
Father [reads aloxid]. “Dear Santa: The big stocking 
is for you. We put our very nicest things in it, and we 
hope you will like it. Merry Christmas!” 

[Father looks at the things in the stocking and seems 
much amus&d.] 

Father [laughing]. Well, children, Santa will surely be 


A SURPRISE FOR SANTA 


17 


pleased with so many nice presents. Now, you would 
better go to bed. 

[Exit Father, still smiling. The children follow him.] 
Enter Santa. 

Santa. My, but it is cold out tonight! How many stock¬ 
ings are there here? Why, some one has been helping 
me! This stocking is already filled. Here is a note. I 
wonder what it says. [He goes up to the stocking and 
reads aloud.] “Dear Santa: The big stocking is for you. 
We put our very nicest things in it, and we hope you will 
like it. Merry Christmas!” [Turns to audience and 
speaks.] Well, bless the children! It was good of them 
to remember an old fellow like me! I’ll fill their stock¬ 
ings from top to toe! 

[He fills the children's stockings from his pack, takes the 
stocking they have hung for him and starts away. 
Then he turns to the audience and hows.] 

Santa. Merry Christmas to all! 

Exit. 


—Margaret Kihhe 


18 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


CHOOSING A DOLL 
For Seventeen Girls and Eleven Boys 
CHARACTERS 

Mary . a little girl in white, frilly clothes—a rich child 

Four Japanese Dolls. .. .little girls in Japanese costumes 
Jack-in-the Box.... is attended hy two hoys, who carry 
in the box. They are dressed in white, while Jack 
himself must wear a long green cap and white ruffle 
around the neck, with red and green coat 
Four Scotch Dolls .... girls in blue dresses with 
white aprons, and frilled caps 
Four Eskimo Dolls. .. .little boys in white canton flannel 
pajama suits, white stockings, caps with icicles on top 
Four Negro Dolls. .. .in black stockings, without slippers, 
red dresses and sunbonnets 

Four Soldier Dolls .... boys wearing khaki suits and 
carrying guns over their shoulders 
Four Spanish Dolls. .. .girls dressed in black lace dresses, 
with colored shawls about their shoulders 

These costumes, with the exception of the Eskimo and the soldier 
suits, may be easily and economically made from crepe paper. 

The stage for this dialogue requires no particular setting, 
although an arrangement suggesting a small girVs play¬ 
house would be effective. The only requirement is a rocking- 
chair. 

Mary enters from Left, carrying a big rag doll and fan; 
she walks about, caresses her doll, then lays it down beside 
the chair; seating herself in the chair, she begins rocking 
and fanning. In meditative attitude she picks up her doll 
and speaks. 



CHOOSING A DOLL 


19 


Mary. Tomorrow is Christmas, and my Granny says she’s 
going to give me a doll of my own choosing. [Cups her 
chin in the palm of her hand as though in deep study.] 

Just what sort of a doll do I want, anyway ? 

Holds up doll, looks at it, hugs it close to her breast. 

I’ve heard a lot about dolls, Jessica, but I don’t believe 
in all the world there is one so lovable as you. [Lies back 
in her chair with doll in her arms. Soon she is fast 
asleep.] 

[The Dolls that appear before her represent the dolls 
she sees, in her dream. In the dream she reclines, but 
watches the dolls and moves as in a daze.] 

Enter in tripping fashion the four girls representing the 
Japanese Dolls. They trip around the stage, four 
abreast, then bowing to the sleeper, speak in concert. 

Four Dolls [together]. 

We are the dolls from old Japan, 

And with us comes a bamboo fan; 

All we want to eat is rice— 

Surely we are very nice. 

The dreaming child motions, them aside. 

The Dolls trip around the stage and take their places 
to the left of Mary’s chair. 

Enter the Two Boys carrying a big box. They march 
around the sleeper, bow to her and speak. 

Two Boys [together]. 

There is a dolly as old as the hills. 

With blue eyes and soft, golden locks. 

If you don’t believe it, just take your small hand. 
And lift up the lid of this box. 


20 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Mary reaches for the lid and unfastens the latch. Tip 
jumps the doll representing Jack-in-the-Box. 

Jack looks around, then at Mary as he speaks. 

Jack. 

I am the jolly gentleman 
That lives within a box. 

Friends am I to every one, 

Regardless of their knocks. 

Mary tvaves him aside. 

Boy on left puts hand on Jack^s head, pushes him into 
the box and lets down the lid. He forgets, however, to 
hold the lid while he fastens it, so up jumps Jack again. 
[This feature may he repeated three ar four times to 
good advantage, as it always proves amusing.^ At last 
the Boy on the left closes the lid while the Boy on the 
right fastens it. Then they pick up the box and move 
to left of the Japanese Dolls. 

Each group arranges itself so the line when finished will 
form a semicircle across the stage. 

Enter Four Scotch Dolls. They march around the 
stage in short, quick steps, and bow to the little dreamer. 

Four Scotch Dolls [together]. 

From the land of Annie Laurie, 

Where breezes softly blow, 

Quite well you’d do in choosing 
Your Christmas doll, we know. 

]\Iary impatiently waves them aside. The Scotch Dolls 
take their places to the left of the Three Boys. 

Enter the Eskimo Dolls. With measur&d step they 
march around the platform and bow to the dreamer. 


CHOOSING A DOLL 


21 


Eskimo Dolls [together]. 

If you would choose an Eskimo 
For your dolly, well we know 
You would be considered wise, 

And most pleasantly surprised. 

Mary reaches out and pats the Dolls on the head, then 
waves them aside. 

The Eskimos take their places to the left of the Scotch 
Dolls. 

Enter the Four Negro Dolls, all broadly grinning. They 
march around the stage, and then how to the dreamer. 

Negro Dolls [together]. 

Happy little dolls are we. 

Friendly, too, as we can be— 

Though our skin’s as black as night. 

We’ll fill your days with pure delight. 

Mary reaches out as if to grab one of the dolls. Instantly 
they dodge, and then go circling around her chair in a 
stiff little running step, taking their places at last to 
left of the Eskimos. 

Enter the Four Soldier Dolls. They march with mili¬ 
tary step around the platform, and then bow to the 
dreamer. 

Soldier Dolls [together]. 

We are the Nation’s very own. 

And subject to its call; 

So if you choose a soldier doll. 

You won’t go wrong at all. 

Mary [leaning forward]. Right—left, right—^left, right— 

left, right—left, [as she speaks the Soldiers march to the 

left of the Negro Dolls]. 


22 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Enter the Four Spanish Dolls. They trip about the 
platform, and then how to the dreamer. 

Spanish Dolls [together]. 

If it’s beauty you are looking for, 

And not a fancy name, 

Then I’d suggest you choose a doll 
That comes from sunny Spain. 

A dinner hell is rung vigorously behind the curtain. 
Immediately the Japanese Dolls start on a run for 
the entrance by which they mounted the platform; The 
Boys with Jack-in-the-Box follow, and each group in 
succession follows. Thus the line moves. A pleasing 
feature is to let the performers circle the stage twice 
before leaving the platform. 

When the stage is cleared of everybody except Mary, 
still asleep in the chair, she begins to stir slightly; lazily 
she rubs her eyes, then straightens up and begins look¬ 
ing about the stage, clearly expressing great amaze¬ 
ment. Then she jumps out of the chair and prances 
about the stage, stopping where the dolls stopped; she 
peeps under the chair as if looking for something; then, 
lifting her old Rag Doll in her arms, she speaks re¬ 
flectively. 

Mary. Well—well—well—old Jessica [holds doll closer] 
it seems to me as if I’d been looking at a score or more of 
dolls—Japanese dolls, Sootch dolls, Spanish dolls, dolls 
of every kind imaginable, and yet—oh, I know [smiles 
broadly] I’ve been asleep, Jessica [happy tone] and the 
dolls I’ve seen have only been dream dolls. But—0 
Jessica—some of them were so pretty. 

Voice from behind the curtain calls, long and loud. 

Voice. M-a-r-y-oh, Mar-ee—. 

Mary [yawns sleepily]. I’m—coming— 



CHOOSING A DOLL 


23 


Voice [hack of curtain]. Better be coming, and that 
quickly. You’ve slept so long you’ve already missed your 
dinner. 

Mary crawls (mt of chair and, hugging her old Rag Doll 
closely, starts toward rear of stage, stops and speaks 
to her doll. 

Mary. We don’t mind missing our dinner, do we, Jessica? 
Dreaming such dreams as we have just dreamed is better 
than eating any day. [Exit.] 

CURTAIN 

—Alice Whitson Norton 


THE TOY SHOP MIX-UP 

For Four Boys and Three Girls 
CHAEACTEES 


Santa Claus . hoy of teen-age 

Mrs. Santa . girl of teen-age 

Lollipop . a helper in the shop—Junior 

Fleet-0 ’-Foot . second helper—Junior 

Teddy Bear. loy 

Donkey . a toy 

Jack-in-a-Box . O' small child 

Curly Locks .^ small child 

Monkey .. a toy 

Red Riding Hood . a small child 


Arrange the stage as a workroom; sewing machine in 
center, hig hox marked Paint^^ on the left; hig hox marked 
in block letters ^^Left-overs'’ on the right. Curtain divided 
in center hack to form doorway. 












24 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Curtain rises on Mrs. Santa stitching industriously on 
the machine^ a pile of material hy her side. Lollipop 
searching in the left-over box. Fleet-o^-Foot at work 
at the paint box, putting the eyebrows on a toy monkey. 

Enter Santa Claus. He shakes the snow from his gar¬ 
ments, rubs his ears briskly, glances at the seamstress, 
opens his mouth in surprise. 

Mrs. Santa [looks up, sees expression on Santa^ s face]. 
Don’t look so blue, Santa. We’ll have everything ready 
by night. 

Santa [gruffly]. I’m not so sure about that. If you’d 
only listen to me, and begin the toy-making in time to 
finish before the rush comes on, you’d find things a lot 
easier. 

Mrs. Santa. Keep cool, Santa, keep cool! We’ll get you 
off in plenty of time. 

Santa. And I’ll be thoroughly exhausted, too, when I 
leave. 

Mrs. Santa. That makes no difference. 

Santa. Does to me. I like to start on my Christmas 
round with plenty of time to amble along; as it is now, 
I’m going to be so rushed I won’t have a minute to spare. 

Fleet-0’-Foot. Here’s the last monkey on the order, 

Santa. Want to look him over? 

Santa [crosses the room, examines the Monkey, tweeks his 
ears, shifts his cap, then stares fixedly at his eyes. Turns 
to Fleet-0’-Foot]. What you mean putting rabbit eyes 
in this monkey’s head? 

Fleet-0’-Foot [opens his mouth in surprise cmd turns 
toward Lollipop]. Lollipop gave them to me—he’s the 
one that made the mistake. 

Lollipop [turns from the box marked “Left-overs” and 
eyes Santa indignantly]. All I could find in the left- 


THE TOY SHOP MIX-UP 


25 


over box at this late hour. Nobody will know the dif¬ 
ference but you. [Turns hack to the box.] 

Santa [gruffly]. Won’t—eh? The very idea—sticking 
rabbit eyes in a monkey’s head! [Pretends to wipe the 
Monkey’s eyes.] There, there—don’t cry. Rabbit eyes 
are the prettiest eyes in the world, Monk. Just be careful 
and don’t say anything about ’em. [Takes the Monkey to 
the door.] Run along now, and wait with the others till 
I’m ready to leave. Be careful about your clothes, and 
don’t tell anybody you’ve got rabbit eyes. 

Mrs. Santa [lifts the garment she*s sewing on from the 
machine and inspects it carefully, turns to Fleet-o’- 
Foot, beckons him towards her]. Bring me that un¬ 
finished sailor lad, Fleet-o ’-Foot, and put this suit on him. 

Fleet-0’-Foot parts the curtain and leads in a little 
curly-headed girl, in her petticoat, and begins to put 
her into the sailor suit. 

Santa [sees and throws up his hands in horror]. Land o’ 
mercy! Fleet-o ’-Foot, don’t you know the difference be¬ 
tween a girl and a boy ? That’s Curly Locks you’ve got. 

Curly Locks [shakes her head saucily and speaks in high- 
pitched tone of voice]. I don’t mind being a sailor. 

Santa [gruffly]. Pretty sailor you’d make! [To Fleet- 
o’-Foot.] Get her out of those clothes. [Turns to Lol¬ 
lipop.] Haven’t you got a fluffy dress of some sort for 
this little lady? 

Lollipop [stirs the contents of the box before him vigor¬ 
ously, brings out a fluffy ruffled garment, holds it up for 
inspection]. What about this? I think it’s about her 
size. 

Santa [takes the garment, shakes it out and hands it to 
Fleet-0’-Foot ]. Put it on her. [Turns to Mrs. Santa.] 
What you working on now? 


26 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Mrs. Santa [holds up a teddy-hear suit]. This is for the 
last bear — go put it on him. 

Santa takes the garment and starts towards curtain. 

Lollipop [fastening the last button on Curly Locks ^ dressy 
shoves her aside and reaches for the garment in Santa 
hand]. You finish Curly Locks, and Ill dress the bear. 
[Passes behind curtain.] 

Santa Claus [adjusts Curly Locks^ clothes, smiles]. 
You’re not a bad looking lassie, even if they did try to 
make a sailor of you. 

Curly Locks [in high tones]. I’d ruther to be a lady, 
Santa, than a sailor, so I won’t have to play with boys. 
Santa Claus. Of course you would. 

Mrs. Santa [examines a gray garment, then looks at Lol¬ 
lipop]. Got a bow-wow up there for the stuffed doggie? 
Lollipop [turns things upside down in the left-over box, 
then turns his face towards Mrs. Santa]. Don’t see a 
bow-wow anywhere. Here’s a good “me-ow” for a cat. 
Can we use that? 

Santa. The very idea! Putting a cat’s voice in a dog’s 
body—tut, tut 1 

Enter Fleet-o’-Foot with the Teddy Bear in his arms. 

Fleet-0’-Foot. Here he is, Santa, all ready for the big 
ride. 

Santa [examines the Bear and looks suspiciously at Fleet- 
o’-Foot]. Sure you haven’t got a dog’s bark inside this 
bear? 

Fleet-0’-Foot. No danger; a bear isn’t supposed to make 
any noise. 

Santa Claus. All right. Put him with the rest of the 
toys. 

Fleet-o’-Foot takes the Bear to the door and puts him 
out. 


THE TOY SHOP MIX-UP 


27 


Mrs. Santa [lifts a red cape from the machine]. Put this 
on little Red Riding Hood, Fleet-o’-Foot. 

Fleet-0 ^-Foot takes the garment and disappears through 
the curtains. 

Santa looks at his watch and begins to tramp up and 
down the room. 

Mrs. Santa [looks up from her work]. Don’t get nervous, 
Santa. Well get you off in good time. 

Santa. Good time—nothing! I should have been on my 
way before now. 

Enter Fleet-o’-Foot, leading Red Riding Hood, her 
cape trailing on the floor. 

Santa [looks at Red Riding Hood in amazement]. My, my! 
What a fright! Cut off that cape! It looks like old 
Mother Hubbard instead of Red Riding Hood. 

Mrs. Santa. Come, Red Riding Hood, I’ll fix your cape 
in a jiffy. [Turns to Lollipop.] Bring me some fancy 
pins. Lollipop. 

Lollipop [digs desperately into the left-over box and brings 
out a card of huge safety-pins, holds them up for Mrs. 
Santa’s inspection]. All we’ve got left. Will they do ? 
Santa [excit&dly]. No, indeed! What you trying to do? 
Send Red Riding Hood out fastened up with horse- 
blanket pins? [Turns to Mrs. Santa.] Make a tuck in 
her cape, good wife. 

Mrs. Santa [reaching for a needle with a long thread]. 
Very well, Santa, very well. But pins will be quicker 
work. 

Santa [snappishly]. Then use ’em by all means! Put ’em 
on the under side of the garment and hurry. 

Mrs. Santa [tucks up the cape with pins, then eyes Red 
Riding Hood and turns to Fleet-o’-Foot] . Add a bit o’ 
paint to her cheeks, Fleet-o’-Foot. [Goes back to sewing.] 


28 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Fleet-0’-Foot leads Red Riding Hood to the paint hox 
and dabs her cheeks with bright red paint. 

Santa [eyes the proceeding]. Remember, Fleet-o’-Foot, 
she’s Red Riding Hood—not a clown in a circus. 

Mrs. Santa [to Lollipop]. Get a basket, Lollipop. 
Lollipop [rumages in the box, brings out a dilapidated bas¬ 
ket]. Will this do? 

Mrs. Santa [eyes the basket]. Put a new coat of paint on 
it, Fleet -0 ’-Foot, and we ’ll see how it looks. 

Fleet-0’-Foot takes the basket, Red Riding Hood looking 
on in disgust. 

Santa. Paint won’t hide those broken ribs. Don’t waste 
time painting it. She’ll have to carry something else. 
Lollipop [reaches into the box, brings out a suitcase]. 
How ’ll this do ? 

Mrs. Santa [excitedly]. Fine, Lollipop, Fine! A suitcase 
is more modern anyway, than a basket. 

Santa Claus [disgustedly]. You might let her carry a 
wardrobe trunk 1 

Red Riding Hood [in high mechanical voice]. I don’t want 
to carry a trunk. I want a basket! 

Lollipop [places the suitcase beside Red Riding Hood]. 
Carry the suitcase. Red Riding Hood. It’s new, at least. 

Red Riding Hood picks, up the suitcase, eyes it critically, 
and then very stiffly goes marching out. 

Santa Claus [eyeing the door]. Poor little thing! I’ve a 
good mind not to take her at all. 

Mrs. Santa. Oh, take her along, Santa, the basket idea’s 
getting old anyway. [Picks up a long brown ear and eyes 
it critically, then turns to Fleet-o’-Foot.] Bring in that 
unfinished donkey, Fleet-o’-Foot. 

Fleet-o’-Foot. Yes, Ma’am. [Exit.] 


THE TOY SHOP MIX-UP 


29 


Santa [looks apprehensively at his watch]. I think I’d 
better be going. 

Mrs. Santa [peevishly]. Don’t be so impatient, Santa. 
We’ll get you off in plenty of time. 

Enter Pleet-o'-Foot, bringing a Donkey minus one ear 
and his tail. He hands the unfinished toy to Mrs. 
Santa and stands with hack to audience. 

Mrs. Santa fastens the ear on, holds the Donkey up and 
squeezes him. Fleet-o’-Foot, with hack to audience, 
imitates the harking of a dog. 

Mrs. Santa looks surprised. 

Santa [stamps his foot on the floor indignantly]. Pretty 
mess you’ve made now, making a donkey bark like a dog! 
[Turns to Lollipop]. Here, Lollipop, can’t you find a 
bray for this donkey ? 

Lollipop tosses things about in the left-over box, then 
reaches for the toy—handles him roughly, as if extract¬ 
ing and replacing the mechanical speaker, then hands 
him hack to Santa. 

Santa squeezes the Donkey and immediately he brays 
loud and long. (Fleet-o’-Foot can perform this act 
also.) Everybody looks pleased. 

Mrs. Santa. Put him in the pack, Fleet-o ’-Foot, and bring 
me that Jack-in-a-Box. 

Fleet-o’-Foot [exit with the toy, returns to the curtain]. 
Come and help me, Lollipop, I can’t carry this Jack-in-a- 
Box all by myself. 

Lollipop. All right, I’ll help you. [The boys bring in 
Jack-in-a-Box, and set him on the floor beside Mrs. 
Santa.] 

Mrs. Santa examines Jack-in-a-Box. 


30 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Jack-in-a-Box, with only his undershirt and a pair of 
trousers on, jumps up. 

Mrs. Santa [pushes him down and throws, up her hands in 
horror]. Mercy me! Jack, behave yourself, ’till we 
get you dressed. [Reaches for a white polka-dot blouse 
and swiftly put it on the boy in the box]. 

Santa Claus [eyes the unfinished toy, looks at his watch]. 
1 think I’d better be going. Jack-in-the-Box can be 
omitted all right this year. 

Jack-in-the-Box [jumps up]. Please, Santa, don’t leave 
me behind. I ’ll be so lonesome here all by myself. 

Mrs. Santa [hastily adjusts a cap on the boy’s head and 
pushes him back in the box]. Bring me a screw. Lollipop. 

Lollipop rushes to the left-over box and begins hurriedly 
throwing things about. 

Mrs. Santa [looks towards Pleet-o’-Foot]. Bring me a 
dab of black paint, Fleet-o ’-Foot. 

Lollipop [springs up from the left-over box]. Here’s a 
screw. [Gives it to Mrs. Santa, who screws it in the lid 
of the box.] 

Fleet-0 ’-Foot. Here ’s the paint. [ Gives it to Mrs. Santa. 
She opens the box, and Jack hops up.] 

Mrs. Santa [puts a streak of black paint over each brow 
and a dab of red on each cheek, then sits back and eyes 
him critically]. If you do as well as you look. Jack, 
you’ll make somebody mighty happy on Christmas 
morning. 

Jack-in-the-Box. I’ll do my best. 

Mrs. Santa. Good enough. [Pushes Jack down and fast¬ 
ens the box and turns to the helpers,] Put him in the 
pack, boys. 

Lollipop and Fleet-o’-Foot carry the box out through 
curtain. 


THE TOY SHOP MIX-UP 


31 


Santa looks at his watch, and begins to button his coat. 

Mrs. Santa [boastfully]. There you are, my good man, 
with the last toy done and everything ready for traveling. 
All you’ve got to do now is go. [Points to the door.] 
Santa [scarfs., comes back and, leaning over the machine, 
tickles Mrs. Santa under the chin]. You’re not mad at 
old Santa, are you, good wife ? 

Mrs. Santa [thoughtfidly]. I’m not what you’d call mad, 
I reckon, but your impatience gets on my nerves. All 
this mix-up came about simply because you rushed around 
here like a chicken with his head off, and made us all 
nervous. 

Santa [thoughtfully strokes his beard]. Maybe I am too 
impatient. But what would happen to the children of 
this country if I failed to arrive on schedule time? 

Mrs. Santa. You haven’t failed yet. 

Santa. No, but time’s precious. 

Mrs. Santa. Then away wuth you—and may happiness 
follow the sleigh. 

The jingle of sleigh bells interrupts the conversation. The 
old pair look at each other. 

Enter Lollipop and Fleet-o’-Foot. 

Both [in unison]. 

The sleigh’s ready, sir. 

Santa kisses Mrs. Santa — or waves — good-by, and rushes 
for the door. 

Mrs. Santa, Lollipop and Fleet-o’-Foot [in unison]. 
Good-by, Santa. 

A jingle of bells and the stamping of feet comes from be¬ 
hind the scene. 


32 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Santa. Good-by. [Faintly.] Good-by [still more faintly] 
Good-by. [Answered each time by the three on the stage ]. 

Mrs. Santa [brushes her kerchief across her eyes, then 
turns to her helpers]. Clean up the workshop, boys, 
then go out and take a holiday for yourselves. But [she 
points a warning finger at them] don’t forget to be back 
January first. Let’s make an effort next year to have 
things ready on time. What do you say, boys? 

Lollipop and Fleet-o’-Foot [together, in emphatic tone 
of voice]. Agreed! 

Mrs. Santa takes each by the hand as if sealing the 
pledge, and they all smile together. 

CURTAIN 

—Alice Whitson Norton 


THE FAIRIES AND A CHRISTMAS TREE 

An Acrostic 


For Eleven Girls and One Boy 


CHARACTERS 

Mollie . first speaker, a little girl 

Bonnie, .second speaker, sister to Mollie, a year younger 
[Both should be good speakers] 


J ESSIE . third speaker C 

Jean . fourth speaker H 

Mary . fifth speaker R 

May . sixth speaker I 

Bess .... seventh speaker S 

Lily . eighth speaker T 

Polly . ninth speaker M 

J enny . tenth speaker A 

Mabel, .eleventh speaker S 
Santa Claus 


. an older girl 

The nine girls carry in the 
order indicated the letters 
of the acrostic. They should 
be of about the same size to 
represent a group of fairies 









THE FAIRIES AND A CHRISTMAS TREE 33 


COSTUMES 

The fairies wear costumes of white canton flannel, sprinkled 
with diamond dust, each carrying a dainty paper basket on the 
left arm, marked plainly with the letter each represents. The 
baskets, when made of pink paper and decorated with black letters, 
are very effective. The flat flower basket design lends itself 
readily to hanging on the tree. 

Scene : A barely furnished room decorated with a small 
cedar tree. Essentials: a rocking-chair and a small fire¬ 
place. 

Curtain rises on Mollie in a little drab frock, standing 
beside the empty tree with a wistful expression on her 
face. She shakes her head sadly. 

Mollie. What’s the use having a tree? [Looks at the 
fireplace.] Santa’d never get down that small chimney, 
even if he found the house—and I’m afraid he won’t do 
that, we’re so far from the main part of town. 

Enter Bonnie, wearing a shabby coat and cap but thrill¬ 
ing with happiness. 

Bonnie [clapping her hands joyfully]. Oh, Mollie, Mollie! 
Santa Claus is in town! I saw him in Leeds’ department 
store! And such a huge pack [measures with her arms 
outstretched full length.] Dolls and toys and horns 
sticking right out the top where everybody could see. 
Mollie [sneeringly]. Little good it’ll do us! 

Bonnie [thoughtfully]. Why not? I’ll call on the fairies. 

They love to make children happy. 

Mollie. I’ve heard they did, but I don’t think it’s true. 
I remember you called on them last year, and our tree 
was too skimpy for words. 

Bonnie. Yes, and I remember you felt the same way about 
it then as you do now. 

Mollie. And we didn’t get anything scarcely, either. 
Bonnie. All because you lacked faith. [Moves nearer 
Mollie and points a finger in her face.] Now listen here. 


34 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Mollie. If you want to find a full stocking or a heavily 
loaded tree on Christmas morning, you’ve got to go to 
bed believing you’ll find these things when you wake. 

Mollie [scornfully]. Tut, tut! The days of fairies and 
miracles are past. That tree [motions towards the cedar] 
will look just the same in the morning as it does to-night 
—mark my words! 

Bonnie [stamps her foot impatiently]. I won’t believe it! 
I’m going to bed believing the fairies will come and 
decorate my tree, and that Santa Claus will stop by and 
leave some gifts on it for me. 

Mollie. If you’re so sure of this, why don’t you sit up 
and watch for their coming? 

Bonnie [eagerly]. I’ll do it! [Crosses the floor and 
drops into the rocking-chair hy the hearth.] 

Mollie [moves to the door, looks hack at her sister and 
smiles wisely]. I hope you won’t be disappointed, sister. 
See you in the morning. Good night! [Exit.] 

Bonnie [screws herself into a comfortable position in the 
chair and gazes idly about the room, finally fixing her 
eyes upon the fireplace]. The Santa I saw at Leeds 
would never be able to get down that chimney—unless 
[pauses reflectively] unless, of course, he’d visited other 
homes first. [Screws in the chair a bit restlessly.] Of 
course he’d do that — coming all this way out. Anyhow 
[sleepily] I believe in fairies and I believe in Santa Claus, 
and I’m sure I’m going to have a happy Christmas. [She 
closes her eyes, leans her head back and goes, to sleep.] 

Enter Jessie. She hurriedly crosses the floor and, stand¬ 
ing before the sleeper, eyes her critically. 

Jessie. Poor little thing! Your belief in fairies shall be 
verified! Your tree shall be decorated. The fairies heard 
basket on her arm she produces a handful of candles and 
your wish, and I shall start the decorations. [From the 
proceeds to put them on the tree.] 


THE FAIRIES AND A CHRISTMAS TREE 35 


Jessie [as she adds the candles], 

0 candles red and brown and pink, 

And yellow, green and blue, 

Vll hang you here and then Ill leave 
The shining part to you. 

Jessie hangs the basket bearing the letter C on a low 
limb on the left side of the tree, and steps to right of 
platform. 

Enter Jean, bearing a basket labeled with the letter H. 
She nods at Jessie and goes dancing across the floor to 
the tree. From her basket she produces a holly wreath 
bright with red berries, and hangs it on the tree. While 
she makes it secure, she speaks. 

Jean [recites], 

O little wreath of holly bright. 

Come brighten up this little tree. 

May your berries gleam to-night, 

Because a child has faith in me. 

Jean hangs her basket to right of C and steps back to 
Jessie’s side. 

Enter Mary, bearing a basket labeled E; she sees the 
Fairies, motions them to silence, then glancing at the 
sleeping child, tiptoes to the tree and begins to extract 
a long red ribbon; fastening one end of the ribbon to a 
twig, she goes swiftly around the tree, then stops and 
speaks. 

Mary [recites]. 

Little tree, hold high your head. 

For the fairies still exist. 

Wear with pride your ribbon red [slowly] 

We must prove to—that—small [points 
towards the sleeper ]—Miss. 


36 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Mary hangs her basket right of H, and takes her place 
to left of Jean. 

Enter May, bearing a basket labeled I; she nods gaily at 
the girls, then at the sleeper, then hastily crosses the 
floor to the tree; producing some iridescent bulbs from 
the basket—six gaily colored ones make a good display 
—arranges them in the branches, then standing back, 
admires them as she speaks. 

May [recites], 

O jolly little bits of glass, 

With your soft glint and glow, 

You’ll bring a lot of happiness 

And joy to her [motions to the sleeper] 

I know. 

May hangs her basket to right of B, and takes her place 
next to Mary. 

Enter Bess, bearing a basket labeled 8; she puts her 
fingers to her lips as she nods to the Fairies, glances 
at the sleeper and, tiptoeing to the tree, from her basket 
she produces great handfuls of snow and tosses it upon 
the tree, speaking as she throws it. 

Bess [recites]. 

Hold to those branches, little flakes. 

Hold on with all your might! 

To those dear eyes [motions towards the 
sleeping child] we trust that you 
Will prove a wondrous sight. 

Bess hangs her basket to right of I, and takes her place 
next to May. 

Enter Lily, bearing a basket labeled with the letter T; 
she trips lightly across the room and holds a whispered 
conversation with the fairy group; then, eyeing the 


THE FAIRIES AND A CHRISTMAS TREE 37 


sleeper, she moves on to the tree and from her basket 
produces a string of tinsel; this she arranges on the 
leaves, then standing hack, speaks joyously. 

Lily [recites]. 

A little bit of this and that, 

When added all together, 

Will make a jolly Christmas tree. 

Regardless of the weather. 

Lily hangs her basket to right of 8, and takes her place 
next to Bess. 

Enter Polly, bearing a basket labeled with the letter M; 
Polly claps her hands with delight, while the Fairies 

plainly display their anxiety with ^‘8-s-h - s-s-h — 

s-s-h.’' Polly discovers the sleeper, stops, then moves 
gracefully to the tree. From her basket she produces 
a bunch of mistletoe, and hangs it on the branches, 
and as she fastens it she speaks. 

Polly [recites]. 

0 merry, merry mistletoe, 

I’m glad you came along; 

You fill the heart with happiness 
And tune the lips to song. 

Polly hangs her basket to right of, T, and takes her 
place next to Lily. 

Enter Jennie, bearing a basket labeled with the letter A; 
she prances nimbly around the room, stoops before the 
sleeper, caressingly touches her hair, then trips across 
the floor to the tree, and from her basket produces a 
lovely tinsel angel; this, she carefully places on the 
highest limb possible, and as she fastens it on, she 
speaks. 


38 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Jennie [recites]. 

0 little angel, spread your wings, 

Just as they did of old. 

When wise men came to seek the Child 
With frankincense and gold. 

Jennie hangs her basket to right of M, and takes her 
pla^e next to Polly. 

Enter Mabel, hearing a basket with the letter S; she 
pauses at the entrance as if frightened. The Fairies 
motion her to come in. She sees the sleeping child, 
then hastily crosses the room to the tree. From her 
basket she produces a miniature Santa Claus, searches 
for a prominent place to put him; selecting a limb, 
she fastens him on, and as she works she speaks. 

Mabel [recites]. 

You're such a jolly, jolly chap. 

You always make things hum. 

Please smile your best for her [points 
finger at sleeper] in case 
The real one doesn't come. 

Mabel hangs her basket on the tree and steps back to 
side of A. Here the Fairies all glance towards the 
sleeper, then admire the tree with the word Christmas 
circled across it. Joining hands, they form a circle 
and dance around the tree. A loud noise behind the 
curtain causes them to stop; they stand in listening 
attitude for a minute, then start running off the stage 
as fast as their nimble feet will carry them. 

As soon as the last Fairy disappears off the stage, Santa 
appears, emerging down the chimney. [This may be 
arranged easily by cutting the brick paper before the 
performance.] He drags a heavy pack behind him. 


THE FAIRIES AND A CHRISTMAS TREE 39 


On the hearth he straightens up, eyes the sleeper, then 
the tree, and then looks at his sack. 

Santa. I can see the work of the good fairies around here, 
but they haven’t got anything on me! Ill [moves to the 
tree, looks at his sack again—speaks slowly]. Yes, Ill 
do it—Ill just leave the pack right here under the tree. 
[Places it.] And she [looks hack at the sleeper] can 
open it herself in the morning. 

The sleeper stirS ; and Santa makes a dash for the 
chimney . 

Bonnie [wakes up just as Santa disappears; she ruhs her 
drowsy eyes, looks about the room, sees the tree and 
springs to her feet, claps her hands joyously and starts 
towards the tree, calling loudly]. Mollie—0—Mollie— 
come quick! Everything’s happened just as I said it 
would. [Joyously.] Tree — fairies — Santa Claus — 
everything! 

CURTAIN 


—Alice Whitson Norton 


40 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


CHRISTMAS TIME AT SANTA ^S 
HEADQUARTERS 

For Five Girls and Eight Boys 
Four Teen-age Characters, Five Juveniles, Four Juniors 
CHARACTERS 

Sailor Doll [juvenile] in uniform, with one arm concealed 

Red Cross Nurse . [juvenile] minus a cap 

Teddy Bear. ... [junior] brown woolly garment, one ear 
concealed 

Eskimo Girl. ... [juvenile] ivhite canton flannel coat, leg¬ 
gings, and one overshoe 

Jane and Joy. .. .two dolls [girls, juvenile]. Joy in long 
white ruffly dress, one leg concealed. Jane in petticoat, 
waiting for her dress 

Donkey. ... [jimior] dull brownish costume, black ears, 
long tail, voice missing 

Monkey. .. . [junior] red jacket, black trousers, red cap, 
tail missing 

Jack-in-a-Box. ... [junior] sitting pose, fancy red and 
white-spotted blouse, tie missing 
Jock. ... [teen-age] a jolly helper in overalls 
Joe. .. . [teen-age] careful helper, workman in khaki clothes 
and apron 

Mrs. Santa. .. .[teen-age] black dress, white cap, apron 
and spectacles 

Santa Claus. ... [teen-age] red coat, tassled cap, and boots 
or leggmgs 

The costumes may be easily made from cambric cloth at very 
little expense; the Donkey alone has to stand on all fours 
occasionally, and he is quite attractive when posed on his 
haunches. This is a more comfortable position, also. 



CHRISTMAS AT SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS 41 


OPENING SCENE 

Mrs. Santa at the machine, stitching away furiously on 
a pink, ruffly dress for Jane. 

Joe busy at his work bench, assembling the parts of a 
wagon. 

Jack working industriously over a box supposedly con¬ 
taining all the left-overs of the season. 

Enter Santa. He looks about the room at the unfinished 
toys, eyes his watch, then turns towards Mrs. Santa. 

Mrs. Santa looks up at Santa and smiles. 

Santa [nervously]. Just twenty hours, good wife, until 
I ’ll be leaving. Think you ’ll make it ? 

Mrs. Santa [continues sewing, keeps her eyes on her work]. 
Sure, will make it; you’ve never failed to start on time 
yet, have you? 

Santa [gruffly]. Never had so many unfinished toys at 
headquarters before at this late hour. [Sighs loudly]. 
I’m afraid we ’ll be late this time. 

Mrs. Santa [lifts the ruffly garment from the machine, 
eyes it carefully]. It’s almost finished. 

Santa [eyes frock, too]. That’s all right, my dear, that’s 
all right—put it on Lady Jane and be done with it. 

Mrs. Santa [in astonish&d tone of voice]. Why, Santa, 
I’m surprised that you would have Lady Jane start out 
unfinished. 

Santa. But I’m telling you I’m going to be late getting 
off this year. 

Mrs. Santa [indignantly]. Sit down, Santa—you make 
me nervous. [Turns to jolly helper.] Find me a couple 
of safety-pins, Jock. [Turns to Lady Jane.] Come, 
Jane, let’s get into this little dress. 

Santa ambles across stage and drops into big chair. 


42 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Jane rises from the floor and moves in doll-step fashion 
to Mrs. Santa’s side. 

Jock [finds the pins and hands them to Mrs. Santa, eyes 
the doll]. Stick ’em in good and hard, Mrs. Santa, so 
they won’t lose out. 

Jane [pouting]. You wouldn’t want a lot of old pins 
stuck in your hack, I bet you. 

Mrs. Santa [slips dress over Jane’s head and adjusts the 
ruffiy skirt]. I’ll be careful, dearie. 

Jane [anxiously]. You won’t stick a pin in my back, will 
you, Mrs. Santa? 

Mrs. Santa [turns Jane about and fastens the back]. 
We’ll stick a pin in Jock if he doesn’t mind his own busi¬ 
ness. [Gently pats the ruffles down; turns to Santa]. 
Now, isn’t she perfectly lovely, Santa! 

Jane prances across the floor to Santa’s chair, 

Santa [leans forward in his chair, eyes Jane happily]. 
She’s lovely all right, and she’s finished—thank goodness 
for that! [Turns to Jock.] Put her in the pack, Jock. 
Jock. Please, Santa, leave her with us in the workshop 
till we get the rest finished. See—we can place the toys 
right here against this wall. [Leads Lady Jane to rear 
of platform and places her against the wall.] 

Joe [comes forward with wagon]. Put her in this, it’s 
done. 

Jock places Doll in wagon. 

Santa. Very well, you can have your way; but don’t 
waste any time playing with the toys. I tell you I’m 
liable to be late. 

Jock and Joe place Lady Jane in wagon and go back to 
their places. 


CHRISTMAS AT SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS 43 


Santa [looks around, discovers, the Teddy Bear, speaks 
gruffly] . What’s wrong with old man Teddy ? Speak up. 
Teddy Bear [weak, high whining voice]. I haven’t—got—- 
but—one—ear. 

Mrs. Santa [to Jock]. It’s true! Find me an ear, Jock. 
[To carpenter.] Make another box, Joe. [To the Bear.] 
Come along, Teddy, we’ll fix that ear of yours right now 
and be done with it. 

Teddy Bear crosses the floor to Mrs. Santa. 

Jock [searches in the hox and rises up]. Here’s an ear. 

[Holds one up from the hox for inspection.] 

Mrs. Santa [eyes the Teddy Bear’s ear, takes the one Jock 
hands her, shakes her head, then hands it to Joe]. Cut 
it down, Joe, it’s too long. 

Joe takes his scissors, trims the ear and hammers it 
noisily. 

Teddy Bear [shivering]. Whew! but I’m glad that ear 
isn’t fastened on yet. 

Mrs. Santa. You should be glad. [Turns to Joe.] That’s 
enough, Joe. 

Joe hands the ear to Mrs. Santa, who immediately be¬ 
gins sewing it in place. 

Teddy Bear twists and squirms as if it were very painful. 

Mrs. Santa. There, now [clips off the thread] isn’t he 
lovely, Santa? 

Teddy Bear hops over for inspection. 

Santa [eagerly eyes Teddy Bear, looks at Jock]. Put him 
aside, Jock—he’s finished. [In an undertone.] Thank 
goodness for that! 

Mrs. Santa [eyes the Sailor Doll and Red Cross Nurse, 


44 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


and motions them to come to her side, then turns to 
Jock]. Get me a good long arm, Jock, and a white cap. 
Jock [dives into the box of left-overs, searches diligently, 
lifts up a bonnet], CanT find a cap. Won’t this do? 
Red Cross Nurse [indignantly]. Not for me! 

Jock [lifts an arm], Here’s an arm all right! [Lifts a 
long sleeve from the box and gives it to Mrs. Santa.] 
Mrs. Santa. Try again for the cap, Jock. And [turns to 
Joe] cut out a tail for the monkey, Joe, while I adjust 
this sailor’s missing member. [She adds the arm, and 
the Sailor Doll is well pleased.] 

Jock tosses her a cap; she adds that to the Red Cross 
Nurse’s head, then tacks the tail onto the Monkey 
and looks at the group proudly. 

Mrs. Santa. Here’re Uncle Sam’s children and a coconut 
eater, Santa, all ready to make some little heart happy. 
What do you say? 

Santa [heartily]. Thank goodness they’re ready! Step 
lively, folks, step lively. 

The Sailor Doll and Red Cross Nurse move to rear of 
stage and sit down beside the Teddy Bear and Lady 
Jane. 

Mrs. Santa [eyeing Joy, the doll with one leg]. Come, 
Beautiful, let’s add that missing leg of yours. [Turns to 
Jock.] Find me a shapely leg, Jock. [Turns to Joe.] 
Add a buckle to that patent leather slipper, Joe. 

Jock [dives into the box, brings out a stuffed stocking, turns 
to Mrs. Santa]. How’s this? 

Joy, the one-legged doll hops across the floor to Mrs. 
Santa’s side, carefully concealing her foot. 

Mrs. Santa [eyes the doll and the leg, then smiles happily]. 


CHRISTMAS AT SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS 45 


The very thing, Jock. [Pretends to fasten on the leg, • 
hiding it beyond chair from audience.] 

Joe. Here’s your shoe [fosses same to Mrs. Santa who 
adds it, and turns to Santa]. Look at her, Santa. 
Isn’t she beautiful! 

Santa [anxiously]. Thank goodness she’s finished. Add 
her to the pile, Jock, and hurry. 

Mrs. Santa [throws up her hands in despair]. Please, 
Santa, be patient; we ’ll get you off in good time. Let me 
see [eyes the unfinished toys] what’s the matter with 
you, Jock f 

Jack-in-tiie-Box [springs up, speaks very slow and de¬ 
liberately]. I haven’t—got—no—tie—on. 

Jock dives into the box and brings out a dark tie. 

Jack-in-the-Box [jerkily]. I—don’t—like—that. 

Joe [grabs a strip of red cloth]. I’ll make you a tie. Jack, 
bright enough for anybody. 

J ACK. I —like^—that. 

Mrs. Santa. So do I. Give it to me, Joe. [Takes the tie, 
fastens it on Jack’s neck. All laugh merrily.] [Mrs. 
Santa turns to Santa.] Look, Santa, isn’t that fine? 
Santa [gruffly]. It’s enough that he’s finished. Put him 
with the rest of the toys and hurry. [Claps his hands.] 
Hurry, I tell you! 

Jock and Joe lift the box containing Jack, and place it 
beside the dolls; then they make three unsuccessful at¬ 
tempts to push Jack down in the box before the cover 
can be fastened. [The rougher Jack is in this scene 
the funnier the situation.] 

Mrs. Santa [eyes the toys]. Who’s next? [Sees the Don¬ 
key; looks surprised.] What’s the matter with you, old 
howler ? 

Donkey paws the floor angrily. 


46 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


• Mrs. Santa [to Jock and Joe]. What ails old howler, 
boys? 

Jock and Joe [in unison]. Guess we better examine him 
and see. 

Donkey paws the floor angrily as the hoys stroke his 
body. 

Joe and Jock examine the Donkey— they look in his 
mouth. 

The Donkey shakes his head. They examine his feet. 
The Donkey stamps indignantly. The hoys press his 
side, then stand hack and look at each other in surprise. 

Jock [turns to Mrs. Santa]. As sure as the world, Mrs. 
Santa, he’s minus a voice. 

The Donkey begins to prance about gleefully. 

Mrs. Santa. A voice? You mean to say we forgot to give 
that Donkey a voice! 

Joe. I’m sure it’s a voice that’s missing. 

Mrs. Santa [sadly]. What can we do? 

Joe. I’ll make him a voice. 

Jock. Can’t put it in after you make it. 

Mrs. Santa [anxiously]. Make it, Joe, make it! Maybe 
if he ’ll swallow it, ’twill work. 

Joe [rushes to his work bench, grabs up sheet of leather, or 
cardboard, several nails and a pair of scissors; then looks 
from one to another in amazement]. What does a voice 
look like? 

Mrs. Santa [snatches up a piece of cloth, makes a few rapid 
scissors cuts and tosses it to Joe]. Here’s one, but don’t 
look at it, Joe—just add it to the donl^ey. It will work, 
I’m sure. 

Joe [moves towards the Donkey]. Come, donkey boy, 
get your voice. [Holds out his hand.] 


CHRISTMAS AT SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS 47 


The Donkey paws the floor indignantly. 

Santa [steps out of his chair, whips a long-hladed knife 
from his pocket, turns to Joe]. Give me that voice. I 
know how to add it properly. 

Joe gives Santa a strip of cloth warded up in a hall. 

Santa [ivalks to side of the Donkey, pretends to slash 
the Donkey side, while some one behind the curtain 
noisily tears a strip of cloth}. There, now. [Santa 
turns, motions to Mrs. Santa.] Come, hurry! Bring 
a needle with a strong thread and sew up the cut. 

Mrs. Santa [hastens to comply with Santa’s request, and 
the Donkey twists uncomfortably during the operation. 
Mrs. Santa clips the thread and looks at the animal]. 
Now I hope you will use your voice, since you’ve got it. 
[Pretends to wind up spring from the side.] 

The Donkey shakes his head, makes a funny little noise, 
then a long, loud bray follows. 

Santa [claps his hands over his ears, shouts]. Take him 
out—take him out! He’s over-finished! 

Jock and Joe run the Donkey to rear of stage. 

Santa [turns to the Eskimo]. What’s the matter with 
you ? I must be leaving here. 

The Eskimo [in a stuttering voice]. Plea—plea—please, 
s-sir—I—I—I—need a—a—a overshoe. 

Santa [gruffly]. Why take a month to say so? I’m in a 
hurry. 

Mrs. Santa [excitedly turns to Jock]. Find an overshoe 
for Eski, quick, Jock, quick! 

Jock [dives into the box, searches diligently, brings out 
the overshoe]. Here’s your shoe, Eski! Put it on, hurry, 
now, hurry, or you’ll be left on the shelf for another year. 


48 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Eskimo [puts the shoe on and immediately begins to hol¬ 
ler]. Oh, oh, oh—there’s a tack in it! [Jerks it off.] 
Mbs. Santa. Hammer it down, Joe, hammer it down— 
quick, quick! 

Joe takes the shoe^ hammers the tack down, then returns 
it to the Eskimo, who dons it and walks away happily. 

Santa [looks at his watch and his mouth opens in surprise. 
Eagerly he turns to Jock and Joe, and speaks excitedly]. 
I Ve only five minutes to get away in. Hurry, boys, take 
the toys to my sleigh, while I get into my fur cap and 
. mittens. [Turns, to Mrs. Santa.] Find my whip, wife. 

Exit Joe, Jock and all the toys rapidly. 

Mrs. Santa hands Santa his gloves and cap which he 
hastily dons. 

Santa. Now my whip, and IT1 be on my way to make the 
little folks happy. 

Mrs. Santa hands him the whip, and Santa rushes out. 

Santa [at the door turns, waves hands merrily]. Good-by 
wife; clear up the house while I’m away, so we can have 
a few weeks’ peace when I return. Good-by. [Exit.] 
Mrs. Santa. Good-by. [Drops down in chair, hows her 
head on the machine wearily.] 

Sleigh hells jingle noisily from behind the curtain, then 
gradually the noise diminishes and silence reigns. 

Mrs. Santa raises her head, looks around the empty room 
and signs happily. 

Enter Joe and Jock. 

Joe [merrily]. Well—we finally got him off. 

Jock. And now we can rest in peace for a little while, I 
guess. 


CHRISTMAS AT SANTA’S HEADQUARTERS 49 


Mrs. Santa. Yes, we can all rest for a little while, so you 
boys clear out and have a little Christmas fun yourselves, 
for very well you know with the beginning of the New 
Year, plans for all sorts of new toys will begin to be 
made at Santa’s headquarters. 

Jock [looks about sadly]. It’s lonesome around here with¬ 
out the toy folks, isn’t it ? 

Joe [looks about the room and smiles]. I guess I’ll be 
ready for work with the beginning of the New Year. I 
don’t like the headquarters empty like this. 

Jock. Neither do I. [Thoughtfully], But if I know what 
I’m doing, the gifts are going to be all ready and wait¬ 
ing at Santa’s headquarters when Christmas time comes 
next year. 

Mrs. Santa. Well said, my dear, well said. Let’s shake 
hands on that. 

The three workers join hands in a hearty clasp. 

CURTAIN 

—Alice Whitson Norton 


CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE TROLLEY CAR 

For Any Number of Players from Ten to Twenty- 
eight, All Ages 

CHARACTEES AND COSTUMES 


Conductor. 

Motorman . 

Six Giggling Girls 

Mr. Maddox. 

Mrs. Mahoney. 

Jimmy Mahoney. .. 


. in uniform 

. in uniform 

. a very deaf traveler 

. widow in black 

small boy in sport clothes 







50 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Professor Greene . sour old bachelor 

Elsie Brown ... talkative spinster in old-fashioned clothes, 
very long feather in her hat, arms full of bundles 
Mrs. Newrich . . haughty matron wearing long dangling 
earrings, arms filled with packages 

Miss Webster . jolly, fat old maid 

Six Boys . all carrying bundles 

Mr. Paine. .. .with twins in his arm. Twins loaded with 
Christmas parcels 

Mrs. Paine . loa>ded with Christmas toys for the twins 

Joe and Bill . with a Christmas tree 

Mr. Duncan. .. .feeble and blind, wearing patched clothes 
Sam Duncan .... one leg shorter than other, in ragged 
clothes, leading the old man 

Stage Setting: Arrange a double row of chairs length¬ 
wise through the stage, to represent a street car; this 
can be done easily by using corrugated board or even 
brown wrapping paper, with windows cut out and out¬ 
lined in black. Arrange rear of platform as nearly like 
a trolley car as possible, with signs over the windows, 
representing local firms, and as many chairs as necessary 
to accommodate players. Have a pidl bell at one end of 
car for the conductor's use, and a push bell (a noisy one) 
for the motorman, since there is necessarily a lot of traffic 
on Christmas Eve. 

Curtain rises, on the empty car, supposedly in the car shed. 

Enter the Motorman. 

Motorman [in grouchy mood. He inspects the car, tries 
out the brake, stamps the foot bell, consults his watch]. 
Time to be leaving here. 

Enter the Conductor. 

Conductor [whistling merrily Casey Jones,or some old, 
familiar tune]. Hello, Mack. All set for traveling? 







CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE TROLLEY CAR 51 


[Turns the sign on the side window of the car —Hazel 
Grove Car. Make sign so everybody can read easily. Use 
name of a familiar street, if possible, for this is always 
pleasantly received by an audience,] 

Motorman. I all set, but by heck, I dread the trip. 

Conductor [brushing off the seats] . Dread the trip ? Why, 
Mack, I always look forward to a run on Christmas Eve; 
so many funny things happen among the late shoppers. 

Motorman. Funny? Where do you get that stuff? The 
whole thing’s rotten, and this Christmas giving habit 
[snarls moodily] well, I set my foot down ag’in it this 
year at my house! I’m not going to wear myself out 
working for somebody else’s benefit—no, sir-ree! 

Conductor [whimsically]. Oh, well, everybody doesn’t 
see and feel alike; there’re some folks in the world that 
live to a ripe old age and die without ever tasting the 
joy of life. Come on, let’s go. [Pulls the bell vigor¬ 
ously]. 

Motorman [stamps foot bell, leans forward as if looking 
ahead, looks back at the Conductor]. There’s a crowd 
waiting on the corner. Guess we’re in for a hard run 
to-night, Joe. 

Conductor jerks bell cord; Motorman makes noise re¬ 
sembling a stopping car. 

Conductor. All aboard for Chester, Link, Sedgegrass and 
Walnut Street! (These names should be changed to fa¬ 
miliar suburban streets.) 

Enter six girls, giggling hilariously, arms piled with bun¬ 
dles. They pay fares and scramble for seats. All 
bunch together where they can whisper and giggle con¬ 
tinuously. 

Enter Mrs. Mahoney and young son, Jimmy, both carry¬ 
ing packages. 


52 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Conductor jerks the hell cord. 

The Motorman stamps the foot hell. 

Mrs. Mahoney flops into a seat, and Jimmy misses his 
chair altogether, drops a sack of marbles which roll all 
over the car. He begins to pick them up. 

The Girls twist in their chairs and giggle. 

Conductor [jerks the hell and calls noisily]. All off for 
Chester Avenue! [Pulls cord and flings open door,] 

Enter Prof. Greene, Elsie Brown, Mrs. Newrich. They 
pay fares and make for seats. 

Conductor jerks hell. Passengers lunge forward, and 
last Passengers fall into seats. Miss Brown sits down 
beside the Professor and begins counting her change; 
Prof. Greene spreads newspaper and begins to read; 
Mrs. Newrich takes a seat in front of Mrs. Mahoney 
and Jimmy. 

Jimmy reaches out and thumps the drop on Mrs. New- 
rich’s earring. Mrs. Newrich gives Jimmy a wither¬ 
ing look. 

Mrs. Mahoney snatches Jimmy’s hand back. Girls 
giggle. 

Mrs. Mahoney. Behave yourself, Jimmy! Now you mind! 

Jimmy fidgets in his seat until his mother turns her head. 
Then he gives the eardrop another vigorous thump. 

Again the Girls giggle noisily. 

Mrs. Newrich [turns on Jimmy indignantly]. Another 
thump from you, young man, and out the window you’ll 
go. Smoke that, will you I 

Jimmy [eases back in seat]. Smoke! What does she mean, 
ma ? I don’t see anything to smoke—do you ? 


CHRISTMAkS eve on the trolley car 53 


Girls laugh hilariously. 

Mrs. Mahoney. Be still, Jimmy! still! [Shakes him 
hy the shoulder and pushes him hack in the chair.] 

Conductor jerks hell. 

Motorman gives signal of stopping car. 

Conductor. All aboard for Hazelnut Grove! 

Enter six Boys and Miss Webster. Four Boys rush 
ahead and take the four remaining seats, leaving Miss 
Webster and two Boys to stand. 

Miss Webster waddles up aisle, giving everybody ugly 
looks, hut nohody rises. She reaches for a strap, steps 
on a marhle, drops her bundles, then tries to pick them 
up. 

Miss Brown, to avoid contact, leans toward the Profes¬ 
sor and brushes his. nose with the feather on her hat. 

Prof. Greene shows his displeasure keenly, tries to pro¬ 
tect himself from the feather with his paper. 

Dr. Maddox comes to Miss Webster’s rescue, and helps 
her recover her packages. 

Miss Webster [beams with pleasure and bows, to Dr. Mad¬ 
dox]. Women are certainly helpless creatures without 
man’s assistance. 

Dr. Maddox [hand to ear]. Huh? 

Miss Webster [louder]. I said women are helpless crea¬ 
tures without men. 

Dr. Maddox [hand to ear]. Huh? 

Miss Webster [louder and irritably]. I said women are 
helpless critters without man’s assistance. 

Dr. Maddox [smiles happily]. Yes, yes, assafetida is fine 
for skeeters. [Thoughtfully.] But why worry about the 
pesky critters at Christmas time? 


54 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 

Motorman heais foot hell. 

A whoop of laughter escapes the lips of the giggling 
Girls. 

Miss Webster shows her displeasure. 

Conductor jerks hell, leans forward as if opening door. 

Motorman gives the stop signal. 

Enter Mr. and Mrs. Paine, and their Children, Mr. 
Paine carying the twins, Mrs. Paine with arms filled 
with bundles; Joe and Bill dragging a Christmas tree. 
A 5 ; there are no vacant seats, they stand along with Miss 
Webster. 

Miss Brown turns to see the passengers, brushes Pro¬ 
fessor ^s nose with her feather. He hits at the feather, 
misses it and strikes Miss Webster. 

Prof. Greene [apologetically^. Beg your pardon. 

Miss Webster [icily]. I’d think you would! 

Conductor jerks hell; Motorman stamps foot hell. Every¬ 
body lunges forward, then settles hack. Those standing 
sway about as folks do on a fast-moving car. 

Mr. Paine steps on a marble, stumbles about but regains 
his poise. 

Girls giggle and clap their hands. 

Jimmy, seeing his chance, gives the long eardrop a mighty 
whack. 

Girls shriek with laughter. 

Mrs. Newrich [jumps to her feet and faces Mrs. Ma¬ 
honey]. Better take that boy off this car and do it 

right now, if you don’t want him hurt! 

Boys [in aisle]. Sit down! 


CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE TROLLEY CAR 55 


Conductor [noisily]. All off for Link Avenue! 

Girls scramble out of seats and make for door, dropping 
and picking up bundles as they go. The standing Pas¬ 
sengers drop into the vacated seats. 

Exit the six giggling Girls. 

Conductor jerks bell. Everybody lunges forward. 

Miss Webster seats herself in a seat vacated by one of 
the Girls, directly across the aisle from Miss Brown. 

Mr. and Mrs. Paine settle themselves in vacant chairs and 
arrange the babies and the bundles. Mother Paine 
plays with the babies to the disgust of all present. 

Miss Brown [looks at Miss Webster, registers astonish¬ 
ment, leans over and taps Miss Webster on the knee. 
Both show surprise]. Josephine Webster, sure as I’m 
living! 

Miss Webster. Elsie—Brown! [They lean across aisle 
and kiss each other affectionately.] 

Roudy Boys. Wasn’t that good! 

Prof. Greene looks up in disgust, then hides behind his 
paper. 

Miss Brown [oblivious to everybody in the car, leans 
nearer her friend]. Do tell me, Josephine, what’s bring¬ 
ing you home at this season of the year ? 

Miss Webster. Christmas, Elsie, Christmas. What’s the 
use of succeeding, if you can’t spend the Christmastide 
with the folks you love ? 

Conductor. All off for Riverside Drive. 

Dr. Maddox [jumps up, looks towards Conductor and 
speaks excitedly] . What’s the matter ? 

Conductor [shouts]. All off for Riverside Drive! 

Dr. Maddox [sinks into seat again, speaks directly to Miss 
Brown]. Thought he said fever and hives. 


56 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Miss Brown throws her head hack haughtily arvd gives 
Professor Greene’s nose another brush with her 
feather. 

Prof. Greene comes out of his seat and throws his paper 
in the aisle, looks angrily at Miss Brown and literally 
drags his feet over her lap, upsetting her bundles, as 
he makes for the rear door. 

Prof. Greene [angrily]. Wait, Conductor—let me off— 
I’m a good mile from home—but [gives Miss Brown an¬ 
other ugly look]. I can walk maybe without a feather 
under my nose. [Exit.] 

A shout of laughter goes up from the Passengers. 

Roudy Boys [heads out of window]. Go to it—the road’s 
not crowded. 

Conductor. All aboard for Sedgegrass Corner. 

Enter Mr. Duncan and Sammie, the old man leaning on 
the boy. 

Sammie [peers about the car, sees a vacant seat up front, 
catches the old man by the hand] . Come on, grandpap— 
here’s a seat. 

Conductor waits for old man to be seated, then jerks the 
bell. 

Passengers lean forward and settle back, all eyes on the 
last Passengers. 

Sammie [excitedly]. Jes’ wish you could see this car, 
grandpap. 

Mr. Duncan. What’s the matter with it, Sammie? 

Sammie. Looks like Christmas used to look when we lived 
in a big house and had plenty to eat. 

Mr. Duncan [brushes his eyes with a handkerchief]. 
Don’t think about those days, Sammie—they’re gone. 


CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE TROLLEY CAR 57 


I’m a useless old man now, without money and without 
friends. 

Sammie. Don’t talk like that, grandpap; you’ve got me— 
I’ll be big enough some day to earn money, and then we’ll 
buy back the old home and live like princes—^we will. 

Mr7 Duncan. Dream on, Sammie, ’tain’t going to hurt 
nothing, but Christmas without anything to give is 
might dull. 

Sammie. You got a good spirit, grandpap, that helps some, 
and I’d be almost happy if we only had a few little gifts 
to take granny and Aunt Essie’s children [eyes the tree 
and claps his hands.] There’s a tree on the car, grand¬ 
pap, that would just fit in the corner by granny’s bed. 
Wish we had a tree. 

Billy Paine [steps up to Sammie]. That’s my tree—I’ll 
give it to you. 

Sammie [in surprise]. Me—give that tree to me! 

Billy. Why not? Isn’t Christmas the time to spread 
joy? 

Sammie [shakes his head]. I guess you better keep it; 
’twouldn’t look pretty without popcorn and ornaments 
and a few gifts—and—and—I’ve nothing to put on it. 

Miss Brown [fumbles at the packages in her lap andy bring¬ 
ing forth a big bag^ hands it to Sammie]. Here’s some 
tinsel and ornaments, son—you ’re welcome to them—^like 
as not we’ll have more than we can use, anyway. 

Sammie [takes the bag modestly but eagerly]. Thank you, 
kind lady, thank you. [Feeps into the bag.] These things 
will make a tree pretty, even if it hasn’t any gifts on it. 

Dr. Maddox [eyes, the boy and bag, then hastily examines a 
bundle in his lap, and hands a package to Sammie]. 
There’re some bright candles, little fellow; maybe they’ll 
help. 

Miss Webster [taking a book from her packages]. And 
here’s a lovely story book. 


58 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Sammie [reaches for it]. Thank you, lady, thank you. 

Mrs. Mahoney pinches Jimmy and hands him a package 
to give to Sammie. 

Jimmy [peeping into the sack as he goes to Sammie]. Pea¬ 
nut candy and all-day suckers—Here. [Hands them to 
Sammie.] Hang these on the tree with my compliments. 
Mrs. Paine [takes a package from her pile and hands to 
Sammie]. And this [displays a lovely cap] for your 
Granny, from me. 

Mrs. Newrich [hastily uncovers a bulky package in her 
lap, revealing a cake, hands it to Sammie]. Add this to 
your tree, from me, young fellow. I can buy another one. 
Roudy Boys [pull out Roman candles, firecrackers, sky¬ 
rockets from their pockets, look at them lovingly, then 
march up the car to Sammie and lay them in his lap. One 
speaks]. Add this to your tree from me. 

Other Boys. And me—And me—And me. 

Sammie excitedly accepts the gifts and piles them in the 
old man^s lap. 

Conductor [jerks the hell]. All off for Sedgegrass Corner. 

[Everybody exeunt except Sammie and Mr. Duncan, all 
calling a **Happy Christmas^^ to Sammie as they go.] 

Conductor jerks the bell. 

The Motorman stamps the foot bell. The two passengers 
sway with the motion of the car. 

Sammie [sticks head out the window, calls]. Happy 
Christmas, everybody. [Looks back at the bundles, then 
up at the old man.] The spirit of Christmas isn’t dead 
yet, grandpap, is she ? 

Mr. Duncan. No, sonny, no; the spirit of giving is just 
as good today as it was back yonder when the wise men 


CHRISTMAS EVE ON THE TROLLEY CAR 59 


saw the star heralding the birth of the Savior and brought 
their gifts of frankincense and myrrh. 

Sammie [peeps out the window and lays a hand on the old 
man^s arm]. Here’s the end of the line, grandpap. How 
will I ever get off with all these things? 

Conductor. I’ll help you off, sonny. [Steps up, fills his 
arms with the packages.] 

Exit Sammie and Mr. Duncan. 

Motorman takes up his stool along with a tool or so and 
goes to other end of car. 

Conductor changes the trolley, then from either end of 
the car the two face each other. 

Conductor [merrily]. Well, Mack, we’ve had a pretty 
easy run for Christmas Eve, haven’t we ? [ Thoughtfully. ] 
But I tell you that last couple I took on almost wrung 
the joy out of my heart. I certainly was glad when the 
folks opened up and shared their blessings with those 
unfortunate people. 

Motorman [solemnly]. So was I, Jack, even though I 
thought I’d gotten over all this Christmas foolishness. 
Conductor. We don’t ever get over being happy. Mack. 
Motorman [slowly]. Reckon not. Any way, that incident 
opened my eyes. Folks aren’t nearly so selfish as I was 
letting myself believe them to be, and that speech the 
old man made about the Christmas spirit of giving 
[pauses] that stung me to the heart. Jack. 

Conductor [consults his watch]. Me, too. Mack—but no 
time now for arguing, if we get back in town on time. 
Motorman. Let’s go, boy. 

Bells clang and they We off. 

Motorman [looks hack at Conductor, calls pleasantly]. 
You might be remembering as you ride, that the very 


60 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


minute old Mack gets off to-night he’s going to rush 
right home and take his whole family to town to do their 
Christmas shopping. 


CURTAIN 

—Alice Whitson Norton 


THE KING’S CHOICE 

CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES 

The Trees of the Forest. .. .a number of children dressed 
in green tissue paper clothes and standing about the 
room. Each child holds upright the branch of a tree 
wrapped with green tissue paper 
The King. .. .a boy dressed in royal costume with crown 
and scepter 

The King’s Attendants, .several boys dressed as courtiers 
The King’s Heralds. .. .boys dressed in herald costumes 
wearing plumed hats, and carrying trumpets 
The Oak Tree. .. .a child dressed in green tissue paper, 
holding a branch wrapped with green oak leaves 
The Willow Tree. .. .a child in green tissue paper, holding 
a branch covered with long, drooping fringes of green 
tissue paper 

The Walnut Tree. .. .a child holding a branch with wal¬ 
nuts suspended from the branches 
The Pine Tree .. a child in green, holding a small pine tree 

When everything is ready, one of the King’s Heralds 
enters the forest, blowing his trumpet and shouting. 

PROLOGUE 

Page [recites]. One time Grandfather and Grandmother 


THE KING’S CHOICE 


61 


Silverhair invited all their children and grandchildren to 
the farm to spend the Christmas holidays. 

Christmas Eve they had a wonderful Christmas tree. 
Beautiful colored lights and sparkling ornaments hung 
upon the tree. 

There were nuts, apples, candies and presents for 
everyone. Oh, it was a beautiful Christmas tree. And 
everyone was happy. 

The next night—Christmas night—the children gave 
a play. They called the play “The King’s Choice.” 

The king was to go to the forest where there were many 
kinds of trees. 

There he was to choose a tree to take to the palace for 
his children’s Christmas tree. 

All the trees were eager to be the one chosen. It was 
a great honor to be the Christmas tree at the king’s palace 
for the children of the king. 

When you see the play, you will find out which tree 
was chosen. 

This is the way the children played it. They used 
green lights in the room. 

King’s Herald. The king is coming! The king is coming! 
The king is coming! He is coming through the forest. 
He will prove all the trees of the forest. The one that is 
found worthy shall be chosen to be the Christmas tree 
at the Palace for the children of the king. 

Oak Tree. Hark! what is that the King’s Herald is saying ? 

Willow Tree. He says that one of us is to be the Christ¬ 
mas tree at the Palace for the children of the king. 

AValnut Tree. Yes, but he says we must prove ourselves. 

Willow Tree. I wonder how we are to prove ourselves. 

Oak Tree. I am sure the king will wish to have the 
strongest tree for the Christmas tree at the Palace. I am 
the strongest tree in the forest. 1 shall be the one chosen. 

Willow Tree. Not so ! the king will wish to have the most 


62 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


beautiful tree for the Christmas tree at the Palace. I 
know I am the most beautiful tree in the forest. I shall 
be the one chosen. 

Walnut Tree. Not so, foolish one! The most useful tree 
should be the one chosen. I am the most useful tree in 
the forest and should be the Christmas tree at the Palace. 
I shall be the one chosen. [He draws himself up proudly.] 

Pine Tree [sighing]. Oh, I wish I might be chosen by the 
king, to be the Christmas tree at the Palace, for I love 
little children. I love to be with them. But I cannot 
hope to be chosen, for I am not strong, nor useful, nor 
beautiful. I am only small and green. I do not even 
have leaves. [The little Pine Tree sighs again.] 

A bugle sounds and another Herald comes into view, 
followed by the King. 

Oak Tree. Hark! there comes the king! I shall stand tall 
and straight. The king shall see how strong I am. Even 
the wind cannot bend me. [Stands up very straight, 
awaiting the coming of the King.] 

Willow Tree. Oh, there comes the king! I must flutter 
my leaves and wave my branches. He shall see how 
beautiful I am. [Bends body and sways gracefully.] 

Walnut Tree. Ah! the king at last! I must rattle my 
nuts and throw out my branches. He shall see how 
useful I am. [Rattles the nuts on the branch. The King 
walks up to the Oak Tree, stops before it, and speaks.] 

King. Should you like to be the Christmas tree at the 
Palace ? 

Oak Tree [eagerly]. Oh, yes, king, I should. 

King. What could you do there? 

Oak Tree. I could fill the great room at the Palace, I am 
so large. No one could bend me, I am so strong. 

King. I shall think about what you tell me. 

King walks to Willow Tree. 


THE KING’S CHOICE 


63 


King. Should you like to be the Christmas tree at the 
Palace ? 

Willow Tree [bowing gracefully]. Yes, 0 King, I should. 

King [looking closely at the Willow Tree].. What could 
you do there? 

Willow Tree. I could flutter my leaves, and wave my 
branches. Everyone would say, “What a beautiful 
tree! ’’ 

King. I shall think about what you tell me. 

The King goes to Walnut Tree. When the King stops 
before it, Walnut Tree salutes the King. 

King. Should you like to be the Christmas tree at the 
Palace ? 

Walnut Tree. I should. Sir King, I should. 

King. What could you do there? 

Walnut Tree. I could shake my branches and give you 
nuts to eat. 

King. I shall think about what you tell me. Who is that 
over there? [Pointing to Pine Tree.] 

Walnut Tree. Oh, that is only little Pine Tree. He is 
of no use whatever. 

King. I shall let him speak for himself. [Goes over to 
Pine Tree.] 

King. Should you like to be the Christmas tree at the 
Palace ? 

Pine Tree. 0 king! I should like it more than anything 
I can think of! 

King. What could you do there? 

Pine Tree. I could do nothing. But I love little children 
so dearly, they might do anything they wished with me, 
and I should be happy only to be with them. 

King. You are just the one I want. [Speaks to Attend¬ 
ants.] Take little Pine Tree to the Palace and dress 
him in the Shining Robe. He shall be the Christmas tree 
for my children. 


64 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Pine Tree is led behind a curtain to he dressed in tinsel. 
A bright robe is thrown over him and a Christmas tree 
substituted for the untrimmed pine. Then the curtain 
is drawn, showing the tree trimmed and lighted. 

—Anna Williams Arnett 


PUTTING ON THE SCHOOL PLAY 

The eight Christmas plays following were originally in¬ 
tended for schoolroom use, although the plays are adaptable 
to other presentation as well. 

The average schoolroom is not particularly well adapted 
for a dramatization calling for elaborate stage setting. 
The space in front of the children’s desks is too small to 
permit many characters to be in action on it at the same 
time. The doors are not apt to be conveniently placed to 
provide the exits and entrances specified in the play. For 
these reasons ingenuity and skill of the teacher are often 
taxed to the limit. All these plays have been worked out 
with reference to the teacher’s standpoint as well as the 
child’s, and the requirements of the subject matter itself. 
Difficulties of stage management and rehearsals have been 
minimized as far as possible. 

“Mrs. Santa Claus’ Christmas Reception” was first en¬ 
acted by school children on a tiny stage in a community 
house. There indeed we had the glory of a real stage and 
curtains which could be drawn together at the end of the 
first act; but even so we worked under serious disadvantages. 
Chief among these was the lack of space for dressing. There 
was hardly room for us in the wings, and, with pinning, 
tying, and arranging hair, it was not the calmest half hour 
we ever spent by any means. However, the work of pro¬ 
curing the costumes themselves, the technique of placing 
the right children on the stage at the right time, and the 


PUTTING ON THE SCHOOL PLAY 


65 


method of conducting rehearsals, all were planned to reduce 
the teacher’s work. 

“A Present for Joy” and “Evelyn’s Christmas Lesson” 
were both worked out under the unfavorable conditions of 
schoolroom presentation. 

Children love to give Christmas plays. The day of the 
performance is one of the red-letter days of the school year. 
The children enjoy taking part and they love to see their 
classmates and children of other rooms take part. They 
derive much benefit from the opportunity afforded for self- 
expression. The effort requires originality and responsi¬ 
bility on the part of those who are chosen as stage managers. 
The occasion gives rise to an enthusiasm and a holiday 
spirit that are contagious. 

Unfortunately there are some teachers who cannot work 
up a corresponding enthusiasm. Christmas is a busy season 
and the Christmas play adds greatly to the amount of work 
to be done. It is hard to find suitable material. 

In staging the school play, it is well to bear in mind that 
almost all shifts of scenery have to be made before the 
audience. Therefore the changes must be simple. The 
children appointed to do this work should know exactly 
what is needed, where to get it, and where to put it. 

“The Christmas Eve Prince,” “The Light in the Win¬ 
dow,” and “When Wishes Come True,” are one-act plays 
calling for one-scene setting only. 

In most of these plays there is no change of costume 
between acts. It is a difficult matter to get a class into cos¬ 
tume without help, to say nothing at all of the difficulty of 
making lightning changes between times. 

There are some stage props that it would be well for a 
teacher to secure and keep from year to year. A Santa 
Claus suit is always in request at Christmas time. One of 
our most cherished and beloved stage props is a red satin 
cape which was once an evening wrap. The uses to which 


66 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


we put that cape are amazing. It has cloaked the haughty 
Massasoit, lent color to a valentine queen, served as royal 
robe to many a princess, and has been worn by a witch, 
by Santa Claus, and by Red Riding Hood. 

Not every school will be presented with a red cape of 
bygone cut, but a simple red cambric one is inexpensive 
and will prove a worth while addition to the costume box. 
A black cambric peasant bodice or two will also be a dis¬ 
tinctive asset; and old, discarded evening clothes, if you 
have or can beg them, hold possibilities in store. 

Costumes do not need to be elaborate. I sometimes think 
we get more real fun and satisfaction out of the improvised 
makeshift than we do out of the more expensive costume. 
It is effect and not detail that counts. 

A crown may be nothing but a circlet of yellow paper 
trimmed with tinsel, in reality, but in the realm of imagina¬ 
tion it is the emblem of royalty. A scarf wound around a 
little head and another tastefully draped about a garment 
further embellished with several strings of beads, will create 
a gypsy. A cocked paper hat, a sword fashioned from an 
old lath, a cap and a pistol may represent a fine, soldier 
costume. 

No one realized who saw the effective and colorful peasant 
dress of the poor child in ‘‘A Present for Joy,” that the 
white waist was a torn relic of two summers before, which 
had been serving its mission in life as a doll dress; the 
bright red, paisley-trimmed skirt was a long scarf folded 
and basted into skirt form, and the headgear an old silk 
scarf. The remembrance of these heterogeneous elements 
and the finished result is very gratifying. I should not have 
felt like asking the child’s mother to make a costume, when, 
with about ten minutes’ work, I could create one out of a 
conglomeration of ingredients myself. 

Some mothers refuse to let their children be in a play 
because they feel they cannot afford the money or the time 


PUTTING ON THE SCHOOL PLAY 


67 


to make costumes. It seems a pity that a child should be 
denied the joy of taking part, when such charming results 
may be obtained by the exercise of a little ingenuity. 

Cinderella’s godmother has nothing on the teacher in a 
downtown school, when it comes to transforming little 
beggars into princesses. Most of us hesitate about asking 
parents to make and supply costumes. Especially is this 
true in a section where the parents are not at all well to do. 
Yet to the child mind, a play without costumes is like a cake 
without frosting. The idea of getting out of plain Mary 
Smith and becoming a fairy or a princess or a beggar girl 
is spoiled, if Mary Smith cannot herself feel the part, and 
costumes do help. 

Yet children are not unduly critical of their costumes. 
It is we teachers who see defects, not the uncritical eyes of 
the child, nor the proud, delighted ones of the mothers. 

—Rebecca Rice 


THE FAIRIES^ CHRISTMAS PARTY 

OHAEACTEES AND COSTUMES 

Noreen .. 'I Fairies dressed in white, with 
CoREEN . . tissue-paper wings. Bits 
Irene. . . J of tinsel will add glitter. 

Zip. .. .brownie, dressed in green or brown. A plain school 
suit may be touched up with green trimmings and a 
jaunty crepe paper hat 

Berry. .. .similar to Zip, but with the addition of strings of 
cranberries, or red beads 

Star Child .... long white dress, tinsel decorations., a crown 
of stars and a star-tipped wand. She carries in her 
hand a star for the tree 


68 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Snowflakes. .. .four little girls in white, trimmed with 
tinsel. One has tinsel for the tree, another artificial 
icicles and the other two artificial snow 
The Birthday Bundle Man .... hoy with as many bundles 
of all sizes, and shapes as possible tied to him 



Tim. 

Don. 

Jeanette. .. 


Doris. 

Betty .... 


Believers in fairies 


Time: After school, a few days before Christmas. 

Place : In the forest. There is a small Christmas tree set 
up nearly in the middle of the stage. 

Noreen. Oh dear! 

CoREEN. Oh dear me! 

Irene. Oh deary, deary me! 

Zip. For goodness sake! What is the matter with you 
fairies? You look as doleful as a rainy Saturday. 

Fairies. We are so sad! 

Zip. Why are you sad ? 

Norene. We want to have a Christmas party. 

Coreen. Just like the little earth children have. 

Irene. With a Christmas tree, you know. 

Zip. That isn T such a bad idea. Why don’t you go ahead 
and have one? 

Noreen [exchanging glances with the other Fairies] . Why, 
I never thought of that. 

Coreen. Neither did I. 

Irene. Nor I. 

Coreen. But how can we manage it. Brownie? 

Zip. I am sure I cannot tell you. I was never at one in 
all my life. Why don’t you ask the Christmas fairies? 





THE FAIRIES’ CHRISTMAS PARTY 


69 


Noreen. Oh, that would never do! They are so busy at 
this time of the year. We will have to manage it all by 
ourselves. 

CoREEN [sitting down and weeping]. Oh dear, then we 
can’t have a Christmas party, for there isn’t one of us 
that knows a thing about it. We can’t have one, after all. 

Irene. Oh yes, we can. I am sure we can. [She hops up 
and down.] We can find out from the children. 

Noreen. Is it not sad that the children no longer believe 
in us? If they did, we could have a wonderful party. 
They could t^ll us what to do and then we could invite 
them to the party. 

Irene. It is the fairy law that no fairy may have anything 
to do with any one who does not believe in fairies. Per¬ 
haps we could find out by listening, how the children 
plan their parties. 

Zip. They will be coming by on their way home from 
school pretty soon. I shouldn’t be surprised if they were 
talking about it. It’s all they are thinking about these 
days. 

Noreen. Sh! I think I hear them coming! 

CoREEN. We must hide. 

Irene. Here is a place behind the pine tree. 

Zip. I’ll take down all they say in my little book. 

COREEN. Sh! 

The Fairies put their fingers on their lips and hide. 

Enter Tim and Don from Left. 

Tim [stopping at Center of stage]. Yes, I came pretty 
near tumbling out of that old tree. The branch broke 
under me. If I had not caught hold of the branch below, 
I’d have had an awful bump. 

Don. You were lucky. What did you get? 

Tim. Oh, a nice bunch of mistletoe and some evergreen. 
Isn’t Christmas fun? 


70 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Don. ITl say it is. Look, Tim! Isn’t that a dandy little 
tree? It would make a perfect Christmas tree. 

Tim. If dad had not already bought one, I’d take it home. 
Come on, we’ve got to hurry. 

Don. Oh, yes! I forgot the popcorn that we have to string 
for the tree. 

Tim. I have to go down the street for more presents and 
you needn’t plan to come with me, either. Don’t string 
less popcorn than you eat, Don. 

Noreen. Did you get that all down. Zip ? 

Zip. All but the popcorn. What is popcorn, anyway? 

CoREEN. I am sure I can’t tell. 

Irene. Hark! Sh, can’t you? Here come three little 
girls. Perhaps they can tell us more. 

Enter Girls. 

Jeanette. We are going to have a lovely golden star on 
the top of our tree, and tinsel and pretty ornaments all 
over it. I must hurry, for I am going after presents 
to-night. ’By! 

Doris. Oh sister, everybody is talking about Christmas 
presents and a Christmas tree. I do want one so badly. 
Can’t we have one at all this year? 

Betty. I do not see how we can, dear. I want one, too, 
but there isn’t enough money. Next year, papa says, we 
shall have a big celebration, but it did take so much to 
move us all from England. We must wait. 

Doris. I wonder whether there are American fairies as 
well as English ones. I have always wished I could see 
a fairy. 

Betty. So have I. I used to look for them. 

Doris. Oh, let’s look for one now! 

Betty. It doesn’t seem the right time of the year, some¬ 
how. 

Doris. Let’s look, anyway. 


THE FAIRIES’ CHRISTMAS PARTY 


71 


They look. PAipiEs dodge about tree. 

Betty. I thought I saw something white on the other side 
of this tree. 

Doris. Oh, it’s the fairies! 

Fairies skip out and make deep curtsies. 

Doris. How lovely I 

Noreen. It is a long time since we have heard a child say 
she believed in us. It makes us very happy. 

CoREEN. You see, we wanted some mortal child to help 
us out. 

Doris. I thought fairies could do anything. 

Betty. We’d love to help you, though. 

Zip. You see, we have our hearts set on having a Christmas 
party and there is no one to tell us how to go about it. 

Irene. Could you do that? 

Doris. Yes, indeed. We always used to have lovely parties 
at Christmas time. 

Betty. Next year we’ll have another. 

CoREEN. If you help us with our party, you can come to 
it right now. 

Doris. Right now? 

Noreen. Yes. 

Zip. What is the sense in waiting ? What shall we do first ? 

Betty. Why—^why—how quick you are! The first thing 
is to get a little tree. 

Zip. a tree? Will this do? [Pointing to a shrub.] 

Doris. Oh no! That is too bare. A Christmas tree must 
have needles on it. 

Irene. Here is a good one. I heard a boy say so. 

Betty. It ought to have a star, a golden or silver star, at 
the very top. 

CoREEN. That is easy. We will call the Star Child. 
Fairies sing to the tune of Santa Lucia.* 

*Page 149, New Common-School Song Book. 



72 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Fairies [sing]. 

Far from the azure sky, 

Star Child, oh hear us. 

Come from thy home on high. 

Bring thy star with thee. 

Lend it to us, we pray. 

On this glad Christmas Day. 

Canst thou not hear us 
Calling, yes calling? 

Star Child replies hy singing first four lines of song 
off stage, appearing on the fifth line. 

Star Child [sings]. 

Far from my home on high 
I hear you calling. 

And I am hastening nigh, 

Evening is falling. 

Softly I come to you. 

Bringing my star, I come; 

Gladly I dl aid you. 

Gladly 111 come. 

Star Child fastens star to tip of tree, 

Doris. How beautiful! 

Noreen. What else does our tree need, O earth children? 
Betty. We had cranberries strung on strings one year. 

They looked bright and cheerful. 

Irene. It would be wrong to use them if many are used 
at Christmas time by Santa. He does have such a hard 
time collecting all the things he has to use. 

CoREEN. What could we use that would do just as well? 
Zip. Oh, I know! Berries! We can use the pretty red 
berries that grow in the wood, the wild rose haws, the 
partridge berry and the black alder. They are very 


THE FAIRIES’ CHRISTMAS PARTY 


73 


pretty and bright. I will call Berry. He is one of the 
brownies and is a cousin of mine to boot. He draws a 
circle on the ground, stamps three times, draws another 
ciioie and claps three times. [Calls,] Berry! 0 Berry! 

Berry. Well, here I am. What can I do for you, cousin? 

Zip [goes up to Berry and fingers the chains of berries about 
his neck]. You see we are having a Christmas party and 
fixing up a Christmas tree, just like the little earth chil¬ 
dren have. Will you lend us the berries that hang about 
your neck ? 

Berry. Gladly, if I may stay and join in the fun. Here, 
ladies, catch these and arrange them to suit yourselves. 

He throws the chains of berries to the Fairies, who 
catch them up with exclamations of delight. 

Noreen [with her head a bit to one side]. It still looks a 
little bare. How shall we make it more lovely? 

Irene. Oh, I know. We must call in the Snowfiakes. 

CoREEN. We do not need to call them. It has been getting 
ready to snow all day. 

Irene. Here they come now! 

Enter Snowflakes, two from each side. The first and 
third as. they speak throw artificial snow over the tree. 
The second wreathes it with tinsel and the f ourth hangs 
decorations representing icicles on the tree. 

First Snowflake [sings or recites]. 

We are the Christmas snowflakes, 

And everywhere we go. 

We pile the outdoor scenery 
’Neath heaps of shining snow. 

Second Snowflake [sings or recites]. 

Here are Christmas garlands. 

So silvery and bright. 

They catch the sunlight’s radiance 
And sparkle in its light. 


74 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Third Snowflake [sings or recites]. 

We heap the tall, green pine tree 
With countless stars of snow, 

And cover all the ugliness 
That’s on the world below. 

Fourth Snowflake [sings or recites]. 

Sparkling icicles I bring, 

To hang in beauty rare; 

At Christmas time of all times. 

We make the earth more fair. 

The Snowflakes scatter artificial snow on everyone and 
dance off the stage singing the Snowflake Song to the 
tune of Santa Claus Is Coming.* 

Snowflakes [sing]. 

Snowflakes swirling past. 

Falling downward, thick and fast, 

Snowflakes downward fall. 

Over the brown earth, covering all. 

Doris. Oh, I do think that this is the prettiest Christmas 
tree I ever saw! There is only one more thing that we 
need to make it perfect. 

Noreen. What is that, little earth child ? 

Doris. On our tree last year there were presents. 

Noreen. We have no presents. In the long ago days when 
everyone believed in us, there were so many little Princes 
and Princesses that w^e gave away all our magic shoes, 
invisible cloaks and our necklaces and mirrors. 

CoREEN. We could ask Santa Claus for presents. 

Irene. Oh no, Coreen, that would never do. He has mil¬ 
lions of little earth children to think about, without 
bothering with the fairy folk. 

Berry. Why don’t you ask the Birthday Bundle Man? 


Page 70, New Common-School Song Book. 



THE FAIRIES’ CHRISTMAS PARTY 


75 


Noreen. It is the very thing. When was your last birth¬ 
day, little girl? 

Doris. Last June. I was six. 

CoREEN. Mercy, that is too far away! He’d never come 
for that. When was yours ? 

Betty. December twenty-sixth. 

Irene. That would do beautifully. Take my wand, Betty, 
close your eyes tight, and say—Oh, wait a moment I How 
old are you, anyway? 

Betty. Nine. 

Irene. Well, close your eyes and touch your forehead nine 
times with the star at the end of my wand. Then say: 
Birthday Man, I hope you’re near. 

We all want you to come here. 

After that turn around three times and make a wish. 

Betty [does as she is told]. 

Birthday Man, I hope you’re near, 

We all want you to come here, 

[She turns about three times.] 

Please bring presents to all the fairy folk here. 

Birthday Bundle Man [enters briskly]. Well, here I am, 
and glad enough to be called. Christmas is my dull 
season, for people are so busy sending Christmas presents 
that birthdays are sadly neglected. I am usually bored 
to tears. It was nice of you to make a wish for the fairies, 
my dear, and I will be most happy to grant it. Here, you 
may make your own selection. [He hands Betty a list.] 

Betty. Let me see. A new crown. None of you need 
crowns, and a spider web handkerchief isn’t big enough 
for a Christmas present. Besides, I don’t like spiders. 
Here are some moonbeam spangles. Any fairy could use 
them. Tie them on the tree for Coreen, Doris. 


76 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


CoREEN [curtsies]. Thank you, dear child, and you, too. 
Birthday Bundle Man. 

Birthday Bundle Man. Don’t mention it. 

Betty. Here is a wishing nut for Zip. That will do for 
him, and this string of South Sea berries will be just the 
thing for his cousin. They came from the royal garden 
of fairies and have magic power. Uncle told us. 

Both Brownies double up in making very deep bows, as 
Doris ties their presents on the tree. 

Betty. Here is a new star to tip a wand with. I see that 
your star is broken a bit, Noreen, so it will be just right 
for you. 

Noreen. Oh, I am so grateful! You can’t imagine how 
shabby I felt with that broken star, and really, stars are 
so expensive that I could not afford to get another. Thank 
you, thank you, thank you! 

Betty. And here is a new book, just published, telling 
fairies how to make children believe in them and love 
them, and also how to arrange any kind of a party at any 
time of year, from New Year’s Day to Christmas. It is 
just what Irene needs and wants. 

Irene. What a lovely present 1 Now we can have a Christ¬ 
mas party every day in the year, if we want it. I am so 
happy that I feel just like dancing and singing. Let’s 
sing one song and then we must skip away, for it is getting 
late. 

All join in singing a Christmas carol. 


—Rebecca Bice 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 


77 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 

CHARACTEES 

Beryl . a poor orphan child about 12 years old 

David. ...Beryl brother, 13 years old, who sells brooms 

Francesca, .the little 6-year-old sister, pet of the other two 

Cara . a rich child lost in the forest 

Carl.Carats brother 

The Mother of Cara and Carl 

Time : Christmas Eve. 

Place : The cottage home of the three little orphans. 

Francesca opens the door, hastily closes it and runs up 
to her sister. 

Francesca. My, but it is cold outside! David will be 
nearly frozen. It is snowing, too. 

Beryl. Pull back the curtain, little one, so the light will 
shine out a long way. David loves to see it shining when 
he comes up the long hill. One night last winter when it 
was terribly cold, he said that it was the thing that gave 
him strength to get here. 

Francesca. I hope he has sold every one of the brooms 
and has his pockets full of pennies. Don’t you, sister ? 

Beryl. It is Christmas time now and nobody is thinking 
about brooms, Francesca. They are thinking about glass 
balls, wreaths, tinsel and Santa Claus. They all are think¬ 
ing about their own beautiful Christmas. 

Francesca. What is Christmas, sister? 

Beryl. Before daddy and mother died, it was the happiest 
day in all the year. It meant presents on the Christmas 
tree and jolly old Santa Claus. And before Christmas 
was lovely, too. The day before, we went out into the 





78 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


woods and filled our arms with lovely green things to 
decorate the house. Then, Christmas Eve we would sit 
by the fire and mother would tell the lovely Christmas 
story. Oh, we were so very happy! [Cries.'] 

Francesca. Don’t cry, sister. 

Beryl. You don’t know, dearie, you are too little. Oh, I 
wish we could give you a real Christmas! 

Francesca. Last Christmas was nice. We could hear the 
pretty bells ringing and you told about the little baby 
who was born in a manger. You sang the song about the 
bells, too. Sing it now, sister. 

Beryl sings Christmas Bells.* Some one is heard out¬ 
side. Francesca runs to the window. 

Francesca. Oh, Beryl! David is coming. Is everything 
ready ? 

Beryl. Put the chair close to the fire. He will be numb 
with cold. I will set the table. [Puts dread and milk on 
the table.] 

Enter David, sits down and buries his face in his hands. 

David. It’s no use. Only one broom did I sell to-day, 
although I tried my hardest. A boy bought it. I think 
because he was sorry for me. Everywhere I went I saw 
the pretty lights, the holly and displays of Christmas 
presents, everything for everyone but us. I can’t even go 
to the city tomorrow, for the stores will be closed and it 
is a holiday. 

Beryl. Do not feel bad about it, David. We have enough 
bread and milk to last over and see. Granny Duballe sent 
in this lovely, spicy ginger cake! / 

Francesca. Just smell, David! I can hardly wait till 
to-morrow. We are going to save it till then. Doesn’t 
it make you happy just to smell such a cake? 


*Page 69, New Common-School Song Book, 



THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 


79 


Beryl goes to the window and draws the curtain. 

Francesca. Don’t, sister, please don’t. The light looks 
so pretty shining on the snow and it may make some one 
happy. Granny Duballe said it was so cheery and homey 
that it made her old heart warm. 

David [goes to window]. Yes, leave it open. You do not 
know what the light in the window means to me when I 
am out at night. It is a welcome and a guide home. 

Beryl [leaves curtain]. It does look bright and cheery. 
Francesca and I always keep the fire blazing brightly 
when it is time for you to come home, David. But it is 
nearly Francesca’s bedtime and we have not eaten. Come, 
draw up your chairs. 

Children draw up chairs and how their heads. 

Francesca. I do get tired of just bread and milk. Oh, I 
know what w^e can do. Let’s make believe it is a feast. 
A night-before-Christmas feast! 

David. Good enough. I will be Master of Ceremonies. My 
dear, may I serve you to turkey ? 

Beryl. Just a little, please, off the breast. I do like 
white meat. 

Francesca. Save the wishbone for me. 

David. I speak for the drumstick. Here, Beryl, is a whole 
heap of mashed potato, with turkey gravy and some 
vegetables. 

Francesca. 0 David, isn’t it fun? Now I want my 
dessert. 

David. Here you are! Three kinds of pie, mince, cran¬ 
berry and squash, plum pudding, nuts, raisins and 
oranges. 

Beryl. I never tasted a more delicious turkey wing, but I 
must save room for my pudding and candy. 

Francesca. Candy ? What kind of candy is it. Beryl ? 


80 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Beryl. You tell her, David. You have seen more kinds of 
it than I ever have. 

David. Why, peppermint canes, of course, and twisted 
ribbon candy, pink, yellow and striped. Chocolate, too. 
Think, Francesca, of a chocolate Santa Claus as big as 
this! [Measures with hands.] 

Francesca. I wouldn’t like to eat Santa Claus. 

David. Well, it might be a chocolate chimney, or a stock¬ 
ing, or a mouse. I saw some of the cutest chocolate mice 
to-day. They had pink eyes and looked so real that I 
almost expected them to squeak. 

Francesca. I think I’d like the chimney and the stock¬ 
ing, but it would be perfectly dreadful to eat a mouse. 

Beryl. It is bedtime now, Francesca. Come here and let 
me unbutton the two hardest buttons. 

Francesca [drawing hack]. But you have not told me my 
Christmas story. You promised to tell it to me just the 
way mother used to tell it to you. 

Beryl [sits down with Bible. Francesca kneels at her 
feet, while David goes to the window], I will read it out 
of the book. I know just where to find it for the place 
is marked with a Christmas picture that mother had when 
she was a little girl. [Beads the Christmas story from 
Bible.] 

Francesca. Just think of that dear little baby lying on 
hay in a common barn! Let’s sing ‘‘Christmas Morn- 
ing.’”^ [They sing, then exeunt saying, “Good night, 
David.”] 

David. Oh, if there were only some way to earn lots of 
money for them! There is so much that I would like to 
buy. I saw such a beautiful doll that would make Fran¬ 
cesca dance with joy. She hasn’t any doll at all. And 
the one I saw was such a beauty! She had curly yellow 
hair and blue eyes. For Beryl I would get a string of 

*Page 71, New Common-School Song Book. 



THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 


81 


beads, red beads that would look like Christmas holly 
berries. But there is no money. It gets harder and 
harder even to get enough to pay for the bread and milk. 

Enter Beryl with a little Christmas tree on a small stand¬ 
ard and carrying things in her apron. 

Beryl. Sh! She isn’t asleep yet. I don’t want her to 
hear a word. See, David, we are going to have a real 
Christmas tree this year. 

David. It’s no use. Beryl. There isn’t a thing to put on it. 

Beryl. Oh yes, there is! I have strung some red berries 
from the woods. They look like beads and make a very 
pretty decoration. 

David. I wanted to get you some red beads. Beryl. 

Beryl. Never mind me this year. This is all for Fran¬ 
cesca. We want her to have a beautiful Christmas. Next 
year you will be earning lots more money and we shall 
be almost rich. Look! [She holds up a string of pop¬ 
corn.] 

David. Popcorn! Where did you get it ? 

Beryl. I took some Christmas greens to Granny Duballe. 
She just loves the woods, but can’t get out in winter time. 
Some rich people sent her a big basket full of Christmas 
dainties. She couldn’t eat the popcorn because of her 
old teeth, so she gave it to me. It was all popped, so I 
only had to string it. Help me put it on the tree, David. 

[helping her]. We can eat it afterward. What else 
have you? 

Beryl. I cut some little stockings out of some scraps of 
paper and colored them. 

David. What are they good for ? 

Beryl. Just to decorate. Don’t you think they are 
pretty ? 

David. Yes. They are cheerful looking. I have a thing 
or two myself. [He goes to the door and brings back a 
home-made doll bed.] What do you think of this? 


82 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Beryl. It is splendid! How clever you are! Wait and I 
will show you what I have made. [She goes out, return¬ 
ing almost immediately with a rag doll. While she is out 
David whistles and rearranges things on the tree.] There, 
[looking at doll] she isn’t especially beautiful, but Fran¬ 
cesca will love her. 

David. Fold up the shawl and put it in the bed for a mat¬ 
tress. There! Now put the doll in. What could be 
nicer ? 

Beryl. Sh! What is that noise ? 

David. It sounds as if some one were crying. 

Beryl. It is a bitter night. Perhaps you’d better go out 
and see if anyone has lost their way. 

David. Yes, I’ll go right out. Where is my coat? 

Beryl. Here it is, and here is your hat. [Helps him put 
them on.] 

David. Wish I had mittens. Keep the fire shining brightly, 
for I may need the light in the window to guide me. I ’ll 
be back presently. 

Beryl [takes mittens from pocket and hides them in tree]. 
I was wondering how I could get rid of dear David for 
a minute. What a good boy he is and how well he takes 
care ot us! [Goes to window.] How dark it is! I can 
see millions of white snowflakes in the light the window 
sheds. The trees will look so pretty to-morrow, almost 
as if they were big, decorated Christmas trees. [Goes 
to the fire.] I am glad I am in here where it is warm. 
David is taking quite a while. I wonder if some one was 
really crying, or whether it was the wind in the pine 
trees. 

David [calls from outside]. Open the door. Beryl! My 
arms are full. [Enters half carrying Cara.] 

Beryl. 0, poor little thing! You must be nearly frozen. 
Your hands are blue with cold. Come over to the stove 
and get warm. [Beryl takes off coat, and Cara lays the 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 


83 


l)ig doll that she is carrying near the Christmas tree.] 
Where did you come from, little girl? 

Cara. Nurse told me that there were fairies in the woods, 
Christmas fairies who helped Santa Claus, by telling 
where to find the good boys and girls. I wanted to help 
him, too. I’ve hunted and hunted and I did not find a 
single fairy and I am so cold! 

Beryl [picks up doll]. What a beautiful doll! It’s the 
loveliest one I ever saw. May I hold it ? 

Cara. Yes indeed 1 I have lots more at home. 

Beryl. You are lucky! I suppose you have a father and 
mother and everything. I have David and my little sister 
Francesca. 

Enter Francesca. 

Francesca [ruhhing her eyes]. Oh, I thought that I heard 
Santa Claus. There were sleigh bells in the valley. O 
sister, suppose he really should come and we should see 
him! [Sees Cara’s doll, which Beryl is holding.] Oh, 
he has come already! He brought the doll! Did he 
bring her to me? O Beryl, do say it is for me! I did 
so want a dolly. I prayed for one. 0, you dear, dear 
dolly! [She runs over to Beryl’s side an'd kneels down, 
holding out her arms. Beryl tries not to cry.] 

Beryl. 0 Francesca, poor dear, little girl, it is not— 

Cara. Sh! Yes, it is, too. I have others and you know I 
told you that I was looking for Santa’s fairies so I could 
help him. Perhaps there were Christmas fairies that led 
me here. There may have been fairies of light that shone 
through the window and called to me as I stumbled along 
in the dark and cold. 

Francesca [comes closer and touches Cara]. It was the 
light in the window. It leads my brother home every 
night and now it has brought you. 

David, Yes, the light in the window! But see, Francesca, 


84 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


as long as you are up, you may have a part of your 
Christmas fun. See, there are other things. 

Francesca. Oh, oh! I know where they came from. It 
was you and Beryl that made them. I love them, love 
them, love them. I love every one. [She gathers up 
everything joyfully.] 

[Bells jingle, a knock is heard and David opens the door. 
Carats Mother and brother Carl enter. Mother 
throws her arms about Cara.] 

Mother. 0 my dear, my dear, how could you have fright¬ 
ened us so? We have been so worried. We have been 
hunting the forest over since we found you were miss¬ 
ing. I have been so anxious. 

Cara. I am all right, mother. I have been having such a 
nice time since David found me. This is David, mother. 
He has been so good to me. He found me when I was 
lost. I saw the light in the window and tried so hard 
to get to the house. I was cold and tired, but then David 
came and carried me in. And this is Beryl. She has 
been good to me too. And this is their little sister. They 
are all good. I love them. 

Carl. Why bless me, mother, this is the boy who sold me 
that nice broom this afternoon! How odd that he should 
find Cara. We are no end grateful. How goes the broom 
trade this weather ? 

Francesca. It does not go well at all, does it, David? It 
makes him want to cry sometimes. He nearly cried to¬ 
night, for there wasn’t enough money to buy us a Christ¬ 
mas. 

Beryl. Sh—sh! Francesca, you must not say such things. 

]\IoTHER. Come, little one, tell me what you were planning 
to do this beautiful Christmas. 

Francesca. Oh, it was going to be such a happy day! 
Just see what David and Beryl made for me! And see 


THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOW 


85 


what Santa brought! I just waked up too soon, you see. 
And there is the music. We can hear the bells of the 
church ring out across the snow. You can see the spire 
from the window. We are going to tell stories, too, and 
sing the Christmas songs. It is going to be a lovely day. 

Mother. Yes, little Francesca, where there is love in the 
heart, there is Christmas. Love, thoughtfulness and gen¬ 
erosity all three combine to make real Christmas joy. 
But come, get your hats and coats, for I am going to take 
you all home with me for Christmas. I think, indeed I 
know, that we can find better work for David. Come, 
my children, it is Christmas Eve, when all the world is 
attune with Christmas love and joy! 

CURTAIN 

■—Rebecca Bice 


THE CHEISTMAS EVE PRINCE 

CHAEACTEES 


Elizabeth. .. .12-year-old daughter of a poor soldier. She 
is dressed peasant fashion 

Raleigh. .. .her brother, a year older. He also is clad in 
poor garments 

The King. .. .dressed richly, but when he make^. his first 
appearance his fine garments are hidden under 
a ragged cape. 


Gaspard 
Canard 
Getto . 



three soldiers, trai¬ 
tors to their king 


The Christmas Eve Prince, .a large doll dressed daintily 
Donald ..... the faithful guard 






86 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Time : Christmas Eve during the Middle Ages. 

Place : The peasant cottage home of Elizabeth and 
Raleigh. 

Scene : The living-room of the Cottage. A fire in the fire¬ 
place may he represented hy a flash light under red and 
orange crepe paper. 

Discovered: Elizabeth sitting in a low rocker with her 
knitting. 

Enter Raleigh with an armful of wood which he puts 
down hy the fireplace. • 

Elizabeth [as Raleigh puts down the wood]. ’Tis a bit¬ 
ter cold night, Raleigh. Art thou sure thou hast brought 
in enough wood to last the night through? 

Raleigh. There is more just outside the door. Glad am I 
now that I was so busy with my axe during the autumn. 
How the wind howls through the pines! How chill it 
sounds! Lucky for me that no long journey taketh me 
from home this night. Even the task of bringing in the 
wood hath numbed my hands and feet. 

Elizabeth. In spite of bitter weather there will be gay 
doings at the palace to-night, for this is Christmas Eve. 
All the candles will be alight and they will shed their 
rays on the fine gowns of the court ladies. • 

Raleigh [suiting action to word]. And the knights will 
advance and make low bows, like this. 

Elizabeth. And the ladies will sink into deep curtsies, 
like this. [Curtsies.] 

Both. And they will dance together, like this. [They 
dance.] 

Elizabeth [laughing and dropping hack into her chair 
after dancing]. What sport it must be to be a court 
lady! Think of the jewels, the beautiful robes and the 
fine parties at the castle! 


THE CHRISTMAS EVE PRINCE 


87 


Raleigh. But think of being a knight! Of riding a pranc¬ 
ing charger with crimson and gold trappings and bearing 
a shield and a sword! [Engages in an imaginary duel.] 
And then there is the glory and the honor of doing some 
wonderful deed for the sake of the king. Oh, that indeed 
would be worth the while. 

Elizabeth. Oh yes, for the king 1 [Dropping her voice al¬ 
most to a whisper.] It maketh me so angry, the things 
that old Babette tells me. She was here this afternoon. 

Raleigh. She is from the castle and should know what is 
going on. What did she say? [He drops on his knees 
beside his sister. They both look about the room almost 
fearfully.] 

Elizabeth [drawing closer to Raleigh and speaking in a 
low tone]. She told of the Christmas festivities at the 
castle in honor of Rupert of Anstrover, the king’s 
nephew. They are more lavish than the king’s own 
feasts. 

Raleigh. It is all wrong. There should be no merry-mak¬ 
ing when the king is in danger of losing his life in for¬ 
eign lands. The war has been a long one and our army 
has been hard pressed. [He paces up and down the 
room.] Who is this Rupert, to be so honored? He was 
glib enough with excuses for not going away to war. 
Said he must stay to guard the baby prince. A plague 
take the cowardly knave and all the villains that he has 
brought into the castle! 

Elizabeth [jumps up and puts her hand over her brother's 
mouth]. Hush! Raleigh, for thine own sake, hush! 
Many had fine excuses, and thou knowest that nearly all 
of the most loyal went, leaving behind many malcontents 
to brew trouble. 

Raleigh. Thou thinkest ? 

Elizabeth. Nay, I know. Old Babette goeth where she 
listeth and none realizes how much she really knows. 


88 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


There is not much that goeth on that she could not tell 
thee of. 

Raleigh. They think that she is simple. 

Elizabeth [leaning forward]. Do you know what I think ? 

Raleigh. No, tell me. 

Elizabeth. She may be a spy. Although she goes about 
mumbling and looking crazy enough to frighten any one 
who does not know her well, I have seen her eyes as keen 
and knowing as a bird ’sr 

Raleigh. What did she tell you ? 

Elizabeth [goes to window and gazes fearfully about, then 
comes hack to her chair and leans toward Raleigh] . She 
says that they are planning a revolt to overthrow the 
king and put Rupert on the throne in his stead. 

Raleigh. But the baby, the little Prince Carlo ! What 
about him ? 

Elizabeth [wiping away tears]. Alas! That is the sad¬ 
dest part. They will either keep him a close prisoner 
or kill him outright. 

Raleigh. Something ought to be done about it. Oh, if I 
were only a man! The king ought to be warned and that 
quickly. I am only a boy, but I am my father’s son. The 
least I can do is to warn the king. I will start this very 
night. Put me up a bite to eat and I will be off at once. 

Elizabeth goes to the table and begins to cut bread. 
Raleigh struggles into his coat. Elizabeth draws a 
scarf about his neck. 

Elizabeth. Now be careful of yourself. I hate to remain 
here alone, but if you are going to brave the storm, I at 
least can brave the loneliness. [Knock.] Mercy, what 
is that! 

The door is thrown violently open and a Guard enters, 
bearing in his arms a baby. He looks about quickly 
and hastily closes the door. 


THE CHRISTMAS EVE PRINCE 


89 


Guard. In the name of the king I enter. 

Elizabeth. In the name of the king you are welcome. 
[Makes curtsy.} 

Guard. Draw the curtain, fair mistress, and you, lad, 
lock and bar the door. 

Raleigh [doing as they are hid]. Yes, good sir. 

Guard. Do you love your country and your king as you 
should, boy? 

Raleigh. As I do my own life. 

Guard. And you, fair mistress ? 

Elizabeth. I also would give my life for my king. 

Guard. That is well. You may be called upon to fulfill 
your vows. You may have heard of the revolt at the 
castle ? 

Raleigh. There have been rumors of rebellion. 

Guard. It is reality. I myself was detailed to kill the 
prince. Little did Rupert know that I am a staunch fol¬ 
lower of the king. By strategy and a sharp bit of fight¬ 
ing I escaped, bearing the young prince with me. I have 
brought him to you. 

Both. To us? 

Guard. Yes. You must conceal him, or better yet, pre¬ 
tend he is your younger brother. ’Tis lucky that Ru¬ 
pert’s mind is too haughty and indifferent to make him 
acquainted with the people, so he does not know how 
many children there are in any of the village houses. 

Elizabeth. We could easily pretend he belonged to us, for 
we have the clothing and cradle of our little sister Marta, 
who died of the fever. 

Guard. Good! You have the cleverness to carry it through. 
I must go, for they will soon be after me again, and I 
must carry word to the king. Guard the prince as your 
own life. It is a lucky thing that the snow is falling 
thickly, for it will cover up my trail. [He puts the hahy 


90 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


into Elizabeth’s arms.] Good even, and may Heaven 
protect you! [He leaves. Raleigh gets his coat off.] 
Elizabeth. It seems like a dream to me. Oh Raleigh, 
isn’t he a darling? See his cunning little fingers and 
big, pansy blue eyes! Who could hurt such a little 
precious ? 

Raleigh. Yes, who? But we must get to work, my sister. 
This room must look as if the baby belonged here. I will 
fetch the cradle, and you must unwrap him and hide his 
outer clothing. 

Raleigh leaves the room. Elizabeth takes off the cape 
about the baby, looks about for a place to hide it and 
finally puts it under the cushion of her chair and sits 
on it. Then she rocks and talks to the baby. 

Elizabeth. You darling, how could anyone want to hurt 
you ? And on Christmas Eve, too. I will rock thee and 
sing of another Baby King. 

[Sings Holy Night] 

Raleigh brings in cradle. Elizabeth holds up a warning 
finger. Raleigh tries to arrange blankets in cradle, 
but he is clumsy. 

Elizabeth. Here, you take His Royal Highness for a min¬ 
ute and let me fix that. You are making a muddle. 
Raleigh [takes baby in his arms]. I never dreamed that 
I should hold him in my arms, although I have often 
imagined fighting under his leadership when I am a man. 
How tiny he is, and yet how much he means to his coun¬ 
try! 

Elizabeth, after fixing cradle, puts the baby into it and 
rocks him with her foot. 

Elizabeth. Oh, Raleigh, it is Christmas Eve! We ought 


THE CHRISTMAS EVE PRINCE 


91 


to hang up a little stocking and fill it with some of 
Marta’s toys. 

Raleigh. Here is one. I will fasten it up with a sprig of 
holly. 

Elizabeth. It seems almost as if Marta herself were here. 

Raleigh. Hark thee ! What is that ? 

Elizabeth. It sounds like steps. 0 brother! I am all of 
a tremble. 

Raleigh [puts one hand on her shoulder and grips her 
wrist in the other]. You must control it. Be as brave 
as you can. If we falter we are lost indeed. Yes, they 
are coming this way. There are several of them. 

Soldiers enter. 

Gaspard. I am sure that he went this way. Ho, lad, did 
a knight ride by this even? 

Raleigh. I have heard no one pass. 

Canard. A man escaped from the castle bearing the young 
prince with him. 

Gaspard. Without a doubt he is holding him for ransom. 

Getto [winking] . Yes, for a ransom. 

Gaspard. King Ru—I mean Duke Rupert is anxious to 
have him returned at once. 

Canard. He fears the anger of the king when he returns, 
no doubt. 

Getto. Yes, the anger of the king. [He nudges Canard.] 

Gaspard. Perhaps we would better make search of the 
place. ’Twill do no harm and mayhap the traitor is hid¬ 
ing hereabouts. 

Elizabeth. By all means search. It would never do to 
have the young prince kidnaped. 

Raleigh. He would scarce bring a baby here. You see, 
we have one of our own. Two babies would be too easy 
to discover. Besides everyone about here knows that we 
are loyal to the great folk at the castle. 


92 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Elizabeth [going up to the little stocking and fondling it]. 
See, it is his first Christmas. The little stocking is hung, 
waiting for the first visit of good St. Nicholas. 

Gaspard [striding to the cradle]. Let us see the baby. 

Elizabeth [also going to the cradle]. Yes, indeed, you 
may. Only, prithee, do nothing to disturb him, for he 
hath just gone to sleep. He is so dear—and doesnT he 
look like Raleigh ? His eyes are just the same color, the 
loveliest brown—when they are open. 

Raleigh. His hair is like Elizabeth’s, pure gold, curling 
up at the ends. 

Gaspard [turning away and walking to the door]. Yes, 
yes, a pretty baby no doubt, and a healthy young rascal, 
too. But come, we have no time to admire peasant babies, 
when the king’s son is in danger. 

Canard. ’Tis a wild night, but duty is duty. 

Getto. Ah, yes, duty is duty. If you hear aught of the 
prince, send us word, that we may recover him. Rupert 
will reward you. 

Raleigh. Yes lyes! 

Elizabeth. Fare you well. 

As soon as the Soldiers leave, Elizabeth drops quivering 
beside the cradle. Raleigh puts his hand on her 
shoulder. 

Raleigh. Elizabeth, thou art a wonder. I was badly 
frightened when he approached the cradle, for I feared 
that he suspected something. 

Elizabeth. So did I, but in a flash the idea came to call 
attention to the resemblance in our looks. Luck was with 
us. 

Footsteps, are heard outside and both children jump up 
and clutch one another. 

Elizabeth. 0 Raleigh, dost suppose? 


THE CHRISTMAS EVE PRINCE 


93 


Raleigh. Hush thee! Whoever it is might take heed of 
what thou sayest. Go to the door when he knocks. 

A knock is heard, Elizabeth goes to the door, opens it 
and curtsies. 

King [dressed as a poor wayfarer and carrying cane, pauses 
at the threshold]. May I warm myself at thy fire? It 
is bitter cold and I am nearly spent. 

Elizabeth. Certainly, good sir. Bring up a stool, Ral¬ 
eigh, and place it by the fire. Art hungry, sir ? 

King. A bite to eat and a sup of hot drink would not come 
amiss. Thou art young to have charge of a household. 
Where are thy father and mother? 

Elizabeth [sadly]. Mother is dead. 

Raleigh. Father is fighting for the king in foreign lands. 
King. For the king, you say ? Then he is not an upholder 
of Rupert? 

Elizabeth [shakes her head and puts finger on her lips, un¬ 
seen hy the King] . Raleigh, will you not rock the baby ? 
I see that he is waking. 

King. Do you know aught of the trouble between the king 
and Rupert, boy ? 

Raleigh. Very little. We are simple peasant people and 
have nothing to do with court affairs. 

Elizabeth [pouring out hot drink and handing it to the 
King]. We do not hear much in winter, for the drifts 
are deep and the roads lonely. There are few passers-by. 
King. Then, too, you are but children and the affairs of 
the nation sit but lightly upon the shoulders of the young. 
But come, we will not vex our soul to-night. That is a 
fine little brother you have. 

Elizabeth. Yes, we think he is a darling. We love him 
dearly, Raleigh and I. I will take him now and sing to 
him. [She lifts hahy and hums a lullaby.] 

During the song the Soldiers rush in. Two of them rush 


94 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


at Raleigh and shake him. Elizabeth shrinks hack 
against the wall. 

Gaspard. Young villain, your days are numbered. Within 
the hour you will be turned over to King Rupert to be 
punished as he considers fit. 

Elizabeth. 0 kind sir, have mercy! 

Canard. You too, fair mistress! The baby does look like 
Raleigh, does he? And has he hair the color of your 
own? Indeed, yes, and it might have fooled us, had we 
not made inquiries at the house of the charcoal burner 
near by. Death is too good for you both. 

Getto. Death! Death is too good for you. You shall be 
hanged with a rope about your neck. 

Raleigh. Spare Elizabeth! Wreak your vengeance upon 
me if you will, but do not harm a girl and a little baby. 

Gaspard. Spare her! That is not likely. When King 
Ru— 

King [throws hcwk cloak, draws sword and pushes to the 
front]. Let the king speak for himself! Down upon thy 
knees, Gaspard, Canard, Getto, for I have returned. 
Shame on you, traitors! Rupert is in chains. My sol¬ 
diers are at hand. Donald, who brought the young prince 
here, is with them. Now go! Be thankful that I have 
spared your miserable lives. [When the King announces 
himself, the three traitors show fear and shame. Eliza¬ 
beth sinks to the floor, kneeling with the hahy in her 
arms hy the cradle. The Soldiers slink out and the 
King helps Elizabeth up.] Poor little girl, you have 
gone through much and suffered great fear. And you, 
Raleigh, are the brave son of a brave father. You have 
done me great service this day, for if Rupert had suc¬ 
ceeded in holding the young prince, I should have been 
forced to yield all. What can I do to show my gratitude ? 

Raleigh. 0, your majesty! 

Elizabeth. Your majesty. 


THE CHRISTMAS EVE PRINCE 


95 


King. You shall both come home with me. You, my boy, 
shall learn to be a knight. Your duty will be to guard 
the prince as you have done this night. And you, fair 
mistress, shall watch over his comfort. Come, come home 
with me for Christmas Day. 

—Rebecca Rice 


EVELYN’S CHRISTMAS LESSON 

CHARACTEKS 


Evelyn. owner of the toys 

Arabella. the favorite doll 

Lucilla. another doll 


Captain Jim. . 
Private Peter 
Private Billy 


tin soldiers 


Jack-in-the-Box 

The Guardian Angel of the Toys 


COSTUMES 

Evelyn is in kimoiio and slippers. 

Arabella and Lucilla are in white ruffled dresses decorated with 
little bows of blue for one doll and pink for the other. Their hair 
is tied doll fashion with bows of corresponding colors. 

The Soldiers wear soldier hats of blue, with a cockade of orange and 
orange and blue military straps. They carry swords. 

Jack is in a big box. He wears a cotton batting wig and his face is 
painted conspicuously with red. 

The Guardian Angel is in white, with streamers of white crepe 
paper and tinsel. . 

The dolls may be made exact representations of reruffled doll s dresses. 
This effect may be secured by sewing rosettes and yards of ruffling 
or crepe paper on a plain dress. 

Time : An evening shortly before Christmas. 

Place : The nursery, which is all in confusion. 









96 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Evelyn. I just hate to pick up. I am so sleepy, but mother 
says I can’t go to bed until all of these stupid toys are 
picked up. Oh dear, just look at Arabella Caroline Rosa¬ 
lie, flat on her face, and the tin soldiers are everywhere. 
No one is where he ought to be except Jack. [Sits down, 
yawns and stretches.] I am so sleepy. [Closes her eyes.] 

A clock strikes nine. The Toys pick themselves up from 
the floor. Lucilla begins to twist her arm and to ex¬ 
amine it. Evelyn opens her eyes in astonishment. 

Arabella. What is the matter, Lucilla ? 

Lucilla. It’s my arm. That careless child left me with 
my arm bent backward over my head. It’s gone sound 
asleep. I think it is terrible the way she abuses us. 

Arabella. So do I. Just look at the way she left me, flat 
on the floor and on my face too, mind you. Such an un¬ 
dignified position for a French doll! It is a wonder that 
my poor little nose is not snubbed completely off. Do 
look at it, my dear, and see if it is all there. 

Lucilla. It seems to be. My friend, you have much to be 
thankful for. What is the matter with you, tin soldier ? 

Private Peter. Matter enough! That child let the baby 
play with me and of course he put me into his mouth, and 
sucked most of my complexion off. One eye is completely 
gone and I can only see out of one half of the other. 

Private Billy. Look at what she did to me, though! Her 
initials! Scratched with a pin on my beautiful, blue 
shoulder-strap. She has no regard for uniforms or brass 
buttons. 

Jack [calls loudly]. Let me out! Let me out! Let me 
out, I say! 

Lucilla. It is Jack. How he does hate that box! Shall 
we let him out ? 

Arabella. I wouldn’t dare. He is so ugly and fierce that 
I am afraid of him. You let him out. Private Peter. 


EVELYN’S CHRISTMAS LESSON 


97 


Private Peter. I’ll try. [Goes to the box and fumbles 
with the catch.] I can’t seem to find the catch. 

Private Billy. Here, move along and let me try. I haven’t 
lost half of my eyesight. 

Jack. Hurry up, can’t you? My neck is almost broken. 

Captain Jim. Just a minute, my dear fellow. Patience 
is a virtue, don’t you know? 

Jack [crossly]. So I have heard, but it doesn’t help much 
with a twisted neck. [With the last word he bounces out. 
The Dolls scream and jump back.] 

Jack [speaks first to the Soldiers, then turns with a bow 
to the Dolls, who curtsy]. Thanks. Do not be fright¬ 
ened, ladies, for you are much too pretty to hurt. You 
can’t imagine how I hate that box. I can’t see a thing 
when I am in it. When the cover presses down on my 
poor head, it nearly dislocates my neck. What is all this 
discussion about? Are you still complaining about that 
careless child? [He points at Evelyn, who hides her 
face in shame.] 

Lucilla. She left me outdoors all night in the rain. I was 
wet to the sawdust. It took every bit of the pretty curl 
out of my hair and when she tried to curl it with her 
mother’s curlers, she burned it. 

Captain Jim. The little boy next door has a new popgun 
and thinks the world of it. Yesterday the window was 
open to let in the fresh air and I was standing on the 
sill. That mischievous little nuisance saw me and thought 
it would be great fun to fire it at me. He knelt down 
and aimed at me like this. [Motions. Dolls scream.] 
It hit me right here and before Jack had time to jump 
out of his box, out of the window I went a-flying. I 
landed two stories below on my head. It was fifteen min¬ 
utes before those children found me. I nearly had a rush 
of paint to the head. 

Arabella. When she was teaching that meddlesome puppy 


98 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


to fetch and carry, she made him carry me all over the 
house between his horrid little teeth, sharp little teeth 
they were, too, mind you. They stuck right into my poor 
side and I bled teaspoonfuls of sawdust. 

Private Billy. How terrible! 

Lucilla. How frightened you must have been! 

Private Peter. Speaking about being frightened, her 
mother read her a story about a brave tin soldier who 
went down a sewer in a paper boat. 

Private Billy. I heard that story. The tin soldier was 
swallowed by a horrid fish and afterward was served up 
at the table on a platter, wasn T he ? 

Private Peter. Yes, he was. She thought she would try 
it with me. The little boy next door made a boat out of 
an old newspaper and they set me sailing in the gutter. 
Fortunately, just as I was about to enter a horrible dark 
hole, the paper melted and down I went into the dark, 
cold water. I nearly drowned, to say nothing about 
breaking the end off my sword. 

Jack. Well, has anything happened to you? 

Captain Billy. I should say so! Didn’t that child put a 
great piece of soft molasses candy all over my face and 
up into my hair! I could not breathe for a week. It 
took her mother twenty minutes to get it off. I had to 
be boiled in hot water on the stove. Whew, but it was 
hot! I nearly melted, as well as the candy. What can 
we do? 

Lucilla. I am sure I do not know. How I wish I was 
back in the toy-store window! There I was respected and 
admired. I used to long to belong to some one who 
would love and pet me. It is nearly Christmas and it 
will be worse than ever. The house will be filled with 
new toys and she will have no use for the old ones. Oh, 
I don’t know what will happen to us! It seems as if my 
heart would break. 


EVELYN’S CHRISTMAS LESSON 


99 


Captain Jim. Do not cry, fair lady. My sword is forever 
at your service. [Flourishes sword and makes low how.] 
Something must be done. 

Arabella. I know, but in spite of everything I love her. 
And another thing, I know that she loves me; but I do 
wish that she knew how much she hurt our feelings. It 
is very sad to be a sawdust doll. 

Lucilla. How I loved that sweet little Phoebe Gray who 
was here the other day! How gently she held me! I 
wish that I belonged to her. 

Jack. I don’t believe she has a single toy at her house. 

She could hardly keep her eyes away from you, Lucilla. 
Lucilla. It would be fun to belong to a little girl like that. 
Besides being well treated and loved, think how happy 
it would make her! 

Captain Jim. But this is not saying what is to be done. 

That is the big question. What can we do ? 

Private Billy. I know! She must be court martialed un¬ 
til she promises to be good. 

All except Arabella. Good! Splendid! Fine! Just the 
thing! 

Private Peter. See, she is awake! 

Captain Jim. ’Tention! Mark time, left, right, left, right! 
Forward march! Secure the prisoner! 

At the command “ ’Tention” the Soldiers form a line. 
Their action follows the command of the Captain. As 
they come near Evelyn, they take her hy the arms. 
She screams. 

Evelyn. Don’t! Oh don’t! Please! 

Arabella runs up and pushes the Tin Soldiers away. 
As she does this, the Angel enters and stands looking 
angry and grieved. The Toys do not see her until she 
speaks. 


100 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Arabella. You sha’nT! You must not hurt my little 
mistress! 

Angel. Stop! You have broken the law of Toyland in 
threatening violence to your little mistress. And you, 
mortal child, have abused your rights until you do not 
deserve to own a single toy. You have both been to 
blame, but you shall both be forgiven and given another 
chance. 

Clock strikes and Toys slip hack into their original 
places. The Angel goes out. Evelyn ruhs her eyes 
and looks at the Toys. Then she picks up the Sol¬ 
diers and stands them in a row. She lets Jack out of 
the hox and straightens out the Dolls. 

Evelyn. How very queer! How naughty I have been. 
Lucilla, Phoebe loves you and you love Phoebe. You 
shall go to her on Christmas Day. Tin soldiers, you shall 
go with Jack to the children’s hospital. You were meant 
for boys and Avill be happier with them. Arabella, I love 
you and you love me. I shall always keep you. You 
are my dearest dolly. You have all taught me a big 
Christmas lesson. 

CURTAIN 


— Rebecca Rice 


A PRESENT FOR JOY 


101 


A PRESENT FOR JOY 

CHAEACTEES AND COSTUMES 


Orace . a rich child dressed for outdoors 

Dora . a poor child dressed peasant fashion 


Santa Claus 

Mrs. Santa Claus. .. An white dress, decorated with tinsel, 
red hood and cape 

Joy Santa Claus. .. .small girl in white and silver tinsel 
Mirth* .. . .one of Santa’s fairies dressed in white, trimmed 
with streamers of red and tinsel. She carries a wand 
tipped with tinsel 

hoy fairies who wear red, peaked 
caps, fancy badges, and deco¬ 
rated armbands, and carry small 
axes or knives; might have 
armfuls of Christmas greens 

Jack Frost.... a rough-voiced boy in white blouse and 
trousers, generously trimmed with tinsel. Around his 
head is a band of tinsel 

Four Snowflakes* .... little girls in white nightgowns 
trimmed with white crepe-paper streamers and silver 
tinsel. On their heads are crowns edged with tinsel 

Crepe paper has the most marvelous possibilities. The boys who 
play the Christmas fairy parts in the same play may be simply but 
effectively dressed up with fancy crepe-paper hats, arm bands, and 
elaborate license badges of the same material. 

Time: Christmas Eve. 

Place: Act I —The forest. 

Act II — Santa’s workshop. To save time in put¬ 
ting on this play, the tables needed in 


Good Cheer*. 
Revelry*.... 


*A11 fairies must be good singers. 







102 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Act II may he put up against the forest 
background to provide Santa with ma¬ 
terial for wreaths. 

In this number the scene shifts from the forest to the 
workshop of Santa Claus. It is a simple matter to move 
in chairs, a table and toys. The entire background of 
forest in the first act may be left, except for adding some 
tinsel and decorations, for every one knows that Santa 
Claus’ house is all littered up with Christmas greens and 
Christmas decorations. 


Act I 
The Forest 

Good Cheer [skips in, sees tree and goes up to it]. Here 
is a fine little tree. It is just what Santa is looking for. 
Ill take it with me. [As he starts to chop it down, he 
looks up and sees Grace.] Mercy! A child! I must 
hide. 

Grace. How late it must be getting! I am freezing cold 
and lost. Oh dear, why didn’t I stay close to big brother, 
instead of wandering away into the woods all by myself ? 
Even though I did want to be the one to find the Christ¬ 
mas tree, I ought not to have lost myself. [Sits down on a 
log and begins to cry.] Oh, I want my mother! 

Dora [enters from right and timidly puts her hands on 
Grace’s shoulder]. Poor little girl, are you unhappy, 
too? 

Grace. I am as unhappy as I can be. I am lost. 

Dora. So am I. I have been wandering about in the forest 
ever since noon, when old Martha drove me out of the 
house for breaking the blue Holland pitcher that was her 
mother’s and spilling the milk all over the floor. 

Grace. She drove you out f 


A PRESENT FOR JOY 


103 


Dora. Yes. She said, “Go! Leave this house and never 
darken my doors again. I’ll teach you to break the 
pitcher that was my mother’s and to spill the supper all 
over the floor. ’ ’ I have been wandering about ever since 
and am chilled through and through. 

Grace [taking Dora’s hands in hers and Mowing on them]. 
Your poor hands are as cold as ice and you have no coat. 
Why, your fingers seem frozen! And I thought that I 
was cold. You have no mittens. Here, take mine. I will 
tuck my hands into my muff. 

Dora. How kind you are! They are so pretty, so bright 
and cosy. 

Grace. Grandmother knit them for me last Christmas. 
She knit this scarf, too. See, it is big enough to go around 
both of us. [They spread it over their shoulders and sit 
down on the log.] 

Dora. It is lovely. How much warmer we are when we 
cuddle up close. Let’s sit under this little tree and talk. 
Perhaps some one will come by and find us. Tell me 
about your Christmas. It comes tomorrow, doesn’t it? 

Grace [jumping up and facing her]. Yes, I can hardly 
wait. I just love it. Don’t you ? 

Dora. I hardly know. I love to hear the church bells ring 
the Christmas carols and the glad greetings, but I never 
had a real Christmas myself. 

Grace. Never had a Christmas! Do you mean to say that 
Santa Claus doesn’t come to your house ? Why, he comes 
right down our chimney and leaves us candy, oranges 
and presents. 

Dora. I s’pose he doesn’t know where I live. I—I did 
hang up my stocking once and in the morning there was 
nothing in it but a stick, a piece of coal, and a potato. 
[Ptits her head down on her knees and cries. Good Cheer 
shakes his head and writes in a little hook. Grace kneels 
down hy Dora and tries to peep into her face.] 


104 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Grace. I have heard that he sometimes does that to 
naughty children. Were you naughty? 

Dora. No, I had tried hard to be very good. 

Grace [puts her arms around Dora]. Then it wasn’t 
Santa. I don T believe he is that kind of a man anyway. 
Perhaps it was that old Martha who drove you out; it 
must have been. 

Dora. I thought that too. I never had any hard feelings 
toward Santa for it. [Good Cheer smiles and writes in 
little hook.] 

Grace [walks up and down hack of Dora with perplexed 
face, then sits down heside her]. I’d like to tell Santa 
Claus all about you. I have so many toys that I could 
share with you, if he hasn’t any extra ones. 

Dora. You are very kind to me. 

Grace [drawing her scarf about her closely]. That’s noth¬ 
ing. I wish my brother would come. I’m almost frozen 
and as sleepy as I can be. 

Dora. So am I. I can hardly keep my eyes open. 

[They sleep. [ 

The Snowflake Fairies dance in to waltz time, singing 
The Snowflake Song. Tune, The Dandelion.* 

Fairies [sing]. 

Snowflake Song 
Little snowflakes falling here. 

Soft as down from pigeon’s wing, 

Silent, softly, down they come. 

Diamonds bring, jewels fling. 

Snowflakes flutter slowly down, 

Over forest, field and town. 

Silently they scatter down. 

Form a blanket over all. 


*Page 102, New Common-School Song Book. 



A PRESENT FOR JOY 


105 


Decorate with lavish hand, 

Flinging jewels as they fall, 

Whirling, twirling, swirling so. 

Cover all with heaps of snow. 

As they sing the last two lines the Fairies dance off, two 
to the left and two to the right. During the dance they 
fling handfuls of artificial snow over the sleepers. 

Enter Mirth and Revelry. As Mirth speaks, she drops 
down wearily to the ground. Good Cheer comes from 
behind the Christmas tree. 

Mirth. Ah me, I am tired. I have hardly slept a wink 
during the last twelve months and even now, our work 
is not done. 

Revelry. Alas, it is always the way. Although we helpers 
work with all our might every minute of the time, there 
are always more children than we can possibly care for. 
It is very discouraging to the Santa Claus family, you 
may be sure. 

Good Cheer. There is one of those children in the woods 
this very minute. You know it is my task to listen to all 
that children say about Christmas and report it. I was 
very much interested. 

Mirth. Tell us about it. 

Revelry. Yes, please do. 

Good Cheer [pointing]. Here are two children. One has 
never had a present. The other has had many. 

Revelry [pacing up and down]. That is so often the case. 
I suppose the one who had much was wishing for even 
more ? 

Good Cheer. No, she seemed quite willing to share. 
Revelry. That was kind. We must report it. 

Good Cheer. I have it in my little book. See, here it is, 
on page forty-Jeven. 


106 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Mirth [getting up and going to the sleeping children]. See 
here! It is not right for these little mortals to lie here 
in the cold. If they continue to do so, they may catch 
colds. 

Good Cheer. We simply must do something about it. It 
would never do for these children to be sick upon 
Christmas. 

Revelry. Yes, but what can we do? You know that we 
must be at the North Pole in half an hour to hand in our 
reports. 

Mirth. I know, you are right. We can’t take them to 
their homes, for we are behind time as it is; but we can 
take them with us to Santa’s house. He will know just 
what to do with them. 

Good Cheer. It’s a good idea. We’ll do it. How shall I 
wake up these little mortals? 

Jack Frost [skips all around children^ making faces and 
menacing gestures]. I’ll help you. Just blow in their 
ears and pinch their noses and toes-es. I ’ll wake them up 
for you. [Advances upon the children, hut is driven 
hack hy Revelry.] 

Revelry. Indeed you sha ’n’t, you bad, bold fellow! Run 
along and paint on people’s windows; but watch out, for 
I hear that old South Wind is lying in wait for you! 

Jack. Is that so? Let him catch me first! I’ll freeze his 
ears and nip his nose. * 

The Window Artist 

I am gay and I am saucy, 

I will nip your ears and nose. 

I will paint upon your faces 
Pink as pretty as a rose. 

* Adapt to tune of The Barefoot Boy, page 166, New Common- 

School Song Book. 



A PRESENT FOR JOY 


107 


I will paint upon your window 
Fern and flower, moss and tree; 

For your window is my canvas. 

I’m an artist, don’t you see? 

For your window is my canvas. 

I’m an artist, don’t you see ? 

Good Cheer. Ah, Jack is a sad tease, but he does not do 
much real harm. Come, we must waken the children. 

Mirth. Let me do it. I know such a nice way. [She tip¬ 
toes up and gently tickles them with the tinsel at the end 
of her wand. They smile in their sleep, then ruh their 
eyes.] 

Dora. Oh look! How lovely! I really believe it is a 
fairy. You are a fairy, aren’t you? 

Mirth. Yes, we are the Christmas fairies. 

Good Cheer. We are going to take you to see Santa Claus. 

Grace. Oh goody, goody! I have always wanted to see 
him. 

Revelry. Come, come! We must hurry. 


Act II 

Santa^s Workshop 

Discovered: Santa working on toys, with a hig hag at 
his feet. Mrs. Santa working on doll clothes. Joy work¬ 
ing on paper dolls at a small table. 

Joy. Papa! 

Santa Claus. Yes, my dear. What is it? 

Joy. Papa, I wish you would give me a Christmas present. 

Santa Claus. Merciful goodness, what next? Aren’t 
there enough Christmas presents in this house all the year 
around to satisfy you, little daughter? 


108 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Joy. Yes, there are presents and presents; but daddy, I 
want a different kind of a present. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. What is it, my dear? Perhaps I can 
get it for you. 

Joy. I never heard of a store that sold what I want. It’s 
alive. 

Santa Claus. Won’t a baby reindeer do? Blitzen has a 
little beauty, with white spots and the prettiest eyes I 
ever saw. 

Mrs. Santa. You could train him to draw your little red 
sled. 

Santa Claus. Or I could get you a fuzzy little Eskimo 
puppy, or a fluffy little kitten with a pink or blue bow. 
Lots of the little earth children are asking for fluffy 
little kittens. [He looks at his hig hook and then at his 
daughter over his spectacles. She goes up to him.] 
Which shall it be ? 

Joy. Papa, it isn’t a spotty reindeer, nor a fuzzy puppy, 
nor a fluffy kitten that I want. It’s a little sister, about 
as big as I am. 

Santa. There now! That was just what I was afraid of. 
I haven’t a single sister in my storehouse, nor yet in my 
tool-shed. They don’t sell them in stores, and it is the 
one thing that people do not give away. 

Mrs. Santa. You can’t beg, borrow or steal them, either. 

Joy. I mustn’t fret, I suppose. That would be too much 
like the little earth children that papa’s fairies tell about. 
Look, mother, I can’t seem to get this doll’s eyes right. 

Mrs. Santa. Let me flx them. That is very nice. Are you 
going to put yellow or brown hair on her ? 

Joy. Yellow, I think. That is the color I want my little 
sister to have. 

Santa Claus [takes out his watch]. Goodness! The fairies 


A PRESENT FOR JOY 


109 


are due this minute and my bag is not fully packed yet. 
I must hurry! 

Mrs. Santa. Well, this dress is done and Joy has just 
finished coloring her paper dolls. [Rises, folds dolls' 
dresses and puts them in the hag. Joy goes to Santa 
ivith the paper dolls.] 

Joy. Be careful of the bags, daddy. You must not break 
the dolls or muss their hair. 

Santa. Of course not. It’s a matter of professional pride 
with me. I never muss things up. 

Fairies off stage sing. Tune, A Song of the Road.’*^ 

Fairies [dng]. 

Christmas Dreams 
The evening shadows softly creep 
When all the children are asleep. 

All in their little trundle beds. 

While dreams go drifting through their heads. 

Joy. Hark! I hear the fairies. [Song continues.] 

Fairies [sing]. 

The fairies tell old Santa how 

The children mind their mothers now; 

While through their heads the dreamkins go, 

Of Christmas stockings in a row. 

Enter the Fairies leading the Children. 

Mirth. Well, Mr. Santa Claus, here we are. 

Revelry. Just see what we have brought you! 

Santa Claus. Well, I declare, children! Isn’t this a 
pleasant surprise? Joy was just wishing that she could 
have a little sister. 

*Page 39, New Common-School Song Book. 



110 LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 

[Joy goes up to Dora and examines her closely. She 
touches her hair, fingers her dress. Dora smiles and 
shows that she also is interested. Grace runs across 
to Santa and takes his hand in hers.] 

Grace. Dear Santa Claus, you don’t know how glad I am 
to see you! You have been so good to me. I’ve always 
wanted to thank you. 

Joy [turns to Dora and puts hand on Dora’s arm]. How 
glad I am to see you! I am Christmas Joy. I’ve al¬ 
ways wanted a little sister with yellow hair and blue eyes 
just like yours, but I suppose your mother wouldn’t give 
you away. 

Dora. I have no mother nor father nor anyone. 

Joy. Oh, then perhaps I can have you! Perhaps I can 
have you! 

Santa. Bless my whiskers! What is this all about ? What 
ig this-? [Pulls his whiskers as he stands in appar¬ 

ent amazement.] 

Grace. Santa, can’t you do anything about this? Don’t 
you know of some family who wants a little girl ? You 
know so many families and Dora does need a home most 
dreadfully. 

Santa. Bless your sweet little soul! Of course I do. 
Mother Santa Claus and I need another little girl and 
Joy will be too happy for words. We can do much more 
for the children if we have another set of ten fingers to 
help. 

Grace [turns to Mrs. Santa]. I am so glad! She never 
had a mother, you know. [Turns to Santa.] But Santa, 
what can I do? I couldn’t leave mother and father and 
Bob, but I’d like to help too. Mayn’t I? 

Santa. Indeed you may. I need plenty of little earth 
children to help me fill the stockings of the poor, to cheer 



A PRESENT FOR JOY 


111 


the unhappy, and to bring Christmas Good Will into the 
hearts of all the people. 

Grace. It’s a long way home, and I’d like to begin right 
away. How am I to get home, Santa? 

Santa. Dear child, that is a simple matter. I will take 
you in my sleigh and drop you down your own chimney 
into your own little white bed. In the morning they will 
tell you it was all a dream; but remember, little Grace, 
the promises you have made to bring Christmas Cheer to 
others are not dreams. That we, Mrs. Santa Claus, Joy, 
Dora, and I, love you and will watch over you and bring 
you happiness as long as you bring happiness to other 
people. 

—Behecca Bice 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 

CHAEACTEES 


Bettine. 

Clotilde. 

Cleo. j 


village girls eight to 
eleven years old 


Hildegarde .... nine-year-old girl, fair-haired and dainty 
Caterina .... eleven-year-old daughter of rich parents; 
vain and disagreeable 

Beggar Woman . who is really a fairy 

Prince Roland . twelve-year-old boy 

Princess Natalie . eleven-year-old girl, blonde 


Scenes : Act I— The cottage home of Mother Maria, a 
poor peasant woman, mother of Cleo. 

Act II— A drawing-room in the home of Cater¬ 
ina’ s parents. It is richly furnished 
and decorated for a Christmas party. 








112 LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 

Act I 

Bettine. Tell us your story now, dear Hildegarde. You 
know you promised you would the last day you were 
with us. 

Clotilde [putting her hand on Hildegarde’ s arm^. Please 
do. We all want to hear it. 

Hildegarde. There is not much to tell. You all know that 
Mother Maria is not my true mother, as she is the mother 
of Cleo. It was a cold, stormy night about eight years 
ago that I was brought, a wee baby, to this cottage and 
left with Mother Maria. She says that I was wrapped 
in a rich cloak embroidered with golden lilies, but that 
the man who brought me took it away. 

Bettine. Did she tell you how he looked? 

Cleo. No, his hat was drawn low over his eyes. She did 
say that she thought he had come a long way, for he 
seemed very tired and he was soaked to the skin. 

Hildegarde. I was wet, too. She was afraid I might die, 
for the exposure made me very sick. 

Clotilde. Was there nothing about you that could tell 
Mother Maria who you were ? 

Hildegarde. There was only a heavy golden chain with a 
curious ornament attached to it. The ornament was of 
gold, inlaid with tiny topazes in the design of a golden 
lily. 

Clotilde [jumping up and putting her arm about 
garde] . Do show it to us, please. 

Hildegarde. Alas! I cannot, for it has been lost in the 
forest for over a year. [Cleo covers her face and sohs. 
Hildegarde puts her arms about her,] Do not feel so 
badly, Cleo. I know that you did not mean to lose it. 

Bettine. Did you lose it, Cleo? 

Cleo. Yes. I was angry with Hildegarde for some reason 
and I took it to tease her. [She goes to the window and 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 


113 


looks out, pointing.] We have searched the forest from 
here to the spring, but it is lost hopelessly, I fear. 

Clotilde [joining Cleo at the window]. There is no telling 
whether it will ever be found, if it is lost in the enchanted 
wood. 

Bettine. How brave you are to stay here in the forest 
alone, while Mother Maria is away, taking care of poor, 
sick Wanda. They tell wild tales of the fairy folk that 
dwell beneath the gloomy shade of the wood. Tell me, 
Hildegarde, have you never heard strange sounds or 
seen odd sights? 

Hildegarde [dropping her stocking and gazing off 
dreamily]. Ah, yes! But always beautiful sounds, like 
the music of fairy harps and elfin chimes. 

Clotilde. Have you never seen anything? 

Hildegarde. I thought I did once. One evening I walked 
down to the spring a little later than usual. As I passed 
through the forest, the sun slipped down behind the 
western hills. Then I heard sweet music and I thought 
I saw faintly, in the distance, fairylike forms. 

Bettine. But I have heard that evil spirits who do people 
harm make their home in the forest. Have you ever seen 
aught of them? 

Hildegarde. No, never. 

Cleo. I have. The time that I was so naughty and took 
Hildegarde’s chain, I flew into a rage. Then, frightened 
at what I had said and done, I ran out into the wood. 

Bettine [going up to her]. Do tell us what you saw. 

Cleo. It was twilight and I was crying so I could hardly 
see where I was walking, until I got nearly to the old mill. 
Once there, I threw myself upon the ground and cried 
for a long time. When I lifted my head, I was completely 
surrounded with horrid little imps who pointed their 
fingers at me and shouted. 


114 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Bettine. How frightened you must have been! What did 
they say ? 

Cleo [pointing her finger and making a wry face]. They 
shouted, “Bad girl! Mend your ways! Mend your 
ways! ” I was badly frightened and hid my face in fear. 
When I lifted my eyes they were gone; Wt ever after 
that lesson, I have tried to curb my hasty tongue and I 
have never gotten angry with dear Hildegarde since. 

Hildegarde. Indeed, you never have. No real sister could 
be dearer to me than Cleo. 

Bettine [looking fearfully out of the window]. See, the 
sun is fast dropping behind the tree tops. We must go, 
ere the fairy folk get about. 

Clotilde [putting on cape]. Yes, even in the winter they 
are sometimes seen and one can never tell whether they 
be friendly or not. 

Caterina [hursts in, all out of breath]. Oh, girls! I have 
the most exciting thing to tell you! 

All. Really ? What is it ? Tell us! 

Caterina [importantly]. Well, you will open your eyes 
wide with surprise when I tell you. It is the most won¬ 
derful thing that you ever heard of! My father is enter¬ 
taining the king and queen. Prince Roland and Princess 
Natalie for Christmas! 

All. Oh! 

Hildegarde. How perfectly wonderful! 

Caterina. Of course they would come to see my father, 
for isn’t he the most important man within miles? And 
he can entertain them right royally, with rich gifts and 
gay festivities. 

Hildegarde. To think of seeing the princess and really 
talking with her! Caterina, you are the most fortunate 
girl in the whole kingdom! 

Caterina. Oh, that reminds me. What do you suppose 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 


115 


the princess wants us to do for Christmas Eve ? I could 
scarce believe it possible. 

Cleo. Oh, do let us know! 

Caterina. My, but you are curious! But I can’t blame 
you, for what she wants concerns you all. 

Bettine. Caterina, you are the most provoking girl! 

Caterina. Well, I will tell you. She has requested that 
we give a party and, instead of inviting the young nobles 
from Pentrand Castle and Ludlow Manor, as we had 
planned, to invite you common girls of the village. Even 
you, Hilda, unknown child of the forest, are bidden to 
come to the princess’ Christmas party. 

Clotilde. How splendid it will be! 

Hildegarde. And even 1 am invited. 

Bettine. And indeed, why should you not be? There 
isn’t a dearer, sweeter girl in the village, and some who 
are clothed in rich garments might take a lesson from you 
in humility and gentleness. 

Caterina. Speaking about dress, I am going to wear a 
pink silk gown with bunches of ribbon fastened to it. 
What are you going to wear, Hildegarde ? 

Hildegarde. Only this. ’Tis not fine, I know, but ’tis. 
clean and neat. ’Tis hard for Mother Maria to clothe and 
feed two, and what she does for me is done for love alone. 
I’ll wear my plain clothes like a queen, for they were 
wrought by love. 

Caterina. Well, a-day! I must hurry, for I need see to 
it that all my choicest things are put out of sight. The 
princess might catch sight of them and fancy them. Then, 
as her wish is law, I should be forced to give them up. 
I have one fine gift for her and one is enough. Good day 
to you all. 

Bettine. Selfish thing! I don’t like her. She has no 
right to be so high and mighty. My mother says that 


113 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


true nobility shows itself by courtesy and friendliness 
toward all. 

Clotilde. By that token, ’tis Hildegarde herself who is 
of the nobility. But come, Bettine, our mothers will 
worry over our not appearing. And we must devise some 
gift to give to the little princess. I wonder if she will be 
stiff and proud like Caterina. 

Cleo goes to the door with them and waves a farewell. 
Then she comes and sits hy the fire. Hildegarde comes 
to her. 

Cleo. Are you angry, Hildegarde? 

Hildegarde. No, Cleo, only sad and perplexed. Together 
we must devise some gift to take to the princess, for 
Twould never do to repay her kindness with merely 
empty thanks. 

Cleo. I shall weave a basket from branches of the tree, 
and fill it with evergreens, red berries, and prince’s pine. 
’Tis a poor gift for a princess, though. 

Hildegarde. ’Tis a royal gift, for ’tis given in love. I 
must think what shall be my gift to the princess. Hark, 
what was that ? 

Cleo. A knock at the door. Hildegarde, I am afraid of 
strangers when mother is away. 

Hildegarde. I will look out. [She peeps out of the window 
and whispers to Cleo.] Oh, ’tis naught but a poor old 
beggar woman. I will let her in, for it is cold and she 
looks hungry, poor soul. [She opens the door.] Come 
in, good mother, and rest yourself by our fire and partake 
of our food. 

Cleo draws forth a rocking-chair. 

Woman. You have a kind heart, my lass, and kindness 
will always be rewarded. I am not an old woman, I am 
one of the fairy folk. Take this bauble. It was found 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 


117 


in the forest years ago by one of us and has been held 
for you until this time, when you could best use it. 

Hildegarde. Oh, ’tis my very own, the charm that was 
sewed inside the hem of my gown, with the little paper 
on which was written my name, Hildegarde Lilian! 

Woman. Aye, ’tis thine own. Use it well and happiness 
will come not only to thyself but to all thy friends. Good 
fortune will come not only to you, but to good Mother 
Maria and to Cleo, who has learned to control her hasty 
tongue. 

Cleo. Oh, do you really know how hard I have tried, dear 
fairy? I did so hope that the fairy folk might somehow 
find out that the lesson I learned in the forest I have 
never forgotten. 

Woman [puts one arm about Cleo and the other about 
Hildegarde] . I know, lass, and I also know that it has 
been an uphill struggle; and I repeat again, if Hilde¬ 
garde is but wise in her use of this bauble and not only 
wise but kind and generous of heart, good fortune will 
follow. Pare thee well, my children. [She leaves. The 
girls stand gazing at the door.] 

Cleo. Oh, I am so glad they know I have tried to do the 
right thing. But now I must start to make my basket, 
for if it is to be as grand a one as I hope, it will take 
time. What are you going to give her, Hildegarde? 

Hildegarde. I do not know. I will have to do some 
thinking. 

Cleo [putting on her hood]. I’ll think, too. If you can’t 
think of anything, and if I can’t either, you can help me 
make my basket and we will give it together. 

Hildegarde [going to Cleo and putting an arm about her]. 
You are as generous as can be, dear Cleo, but I must find 
my OAvn gift. 

Cleo. Well, I must go for my material, or it will be too 
late to see a thing. Good-by. 


118 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Hildegarde draws her chair up to the fire and begins to 
examine the charm, talking to herself as she does so. 

Hildegarde. If she only had told me how to use it wisely, 
I should do as I was bidden. And the princess ’ gift! I 
have nothing fit for a princess. Must I be the only one 
to come with empty hands? I would like to give a most 
wondrous gift. I have nothing. [She throws out her 
hands impulsively and the charm falls to the floor. She 
picks it up.] I have this. Tis the only nice thing I own 
and I believe it belonged to my own mother. I can’t give 
this away, even to my princess. The fairy said to use it 
wisely. I would not be wise to give it away, and yet one 
ought to give the nicest things to the princess. I won’t 
be selfish, like Caterina—I will give the charm to the dear 
princess, who has chosen to honor us, who are poor and 
humble, instead of inviting rich children to her Christmas 
party. 

Act II 

Discovered : Prince Roland and Princess Natalie seated 
side by side, with Caterina standing facing them. 

Princess. Tell me, Caterina, about the little girls that are 
coming to my Christmas party. 

Prince. Yes, tell us, so that we may be better able to give 
them a good time. 

Caterina [tossing her head]. Oh, you needn’t bother. 
They are all just as common as they can be. I play with 
them sometimes, because there is no one else to play with. 
Duke Harold has two sons, but they are great, horrid 
boys; and Lord Conrad has a daughter, but she lives too 
far away. Besides, I think she is a conceited minx. 

Princess. ’Tis our intention to give these children a royal 
good time. Please tell us who are coming. 

Caterina. Well, since you ask it, there will be Bettine, 
Clotilde, Cleo and Hildegarde. 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 


119 


Princess. That is a pretty sounding name, Hildegarde. 
What is she like ? 

Caterina. Some would think she was pretty. I do not. 
I like black hair better than yellow, not that your hair 
isn’t pretty, princess. The girls like to hear her sing, 
too, although she has had no lessons, as 1 have had. I have 
taken lessons from masters. 

Voice [calling from outside]. Caterina! 

Caterina. Oh dear, some one is calling me. I didn’t have 
time to tell you how funny my music teacher is, or about 
the miserable little hut that Hildegarde and Cleo live in. 
[She runs out.] 

Prince. Do you really and truly like Caterina, sister? 

Princess. ’Twould hardly be polite to say I disliked her; 
I have to behave toward her all the time as a princess 
should; but I cannot truthfully say I love her. 

Prince. She is too ready to talk spitefully against all her 
professed friends. I like her not. 

Princess, [musingly.] Hildegarde. That name seems 
familiar. What Hildegarde do I know, brother? [She 
turns toward him, and he rises and stands facing her.] 

Prince. ’Tis the lost duchess. Do you remember the story 
of how, many years ago, the little Lady Hildegarde Lilian 
was abducted from the castle, and killed in the forest? 

Princess. Ah, yes! How very sad 1 

Prince. They suspected the duke’s brother, but it could 
never be proven against him. 

Princess. Are they sure that the little duchess was really 
killed? 

Prince. Yes, they found her robe in the forest, blood¬ 
stained and rent. ’Tis queer they never found the chain, 
though. 

Princess. What chain ? 

Prince. Why, the golden chain with the jeweled charm. 
Surely you have heard that tale. 


120 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Princess. Indeed I have not. Tell me, brother. 

Prince. Well, the story goes that the old duke married a 
young wife. Hildegarde was their daughter. This mar¬ 
riage was very much against his brother’s wishes. You 
see, if he had not married, all the riches would have be¬ 
longed some day to this brother. 

Princess. Yes, I can’t blame him for wanting the castle. 
It is the grandest in all the north country. But what 
happened ? 

Prince. The little duchess’ name was Hildegarde Lilian, 
so he had made for her a golden chain with a charm. On 
the charm was a design set with tiny topazes in the shape 
of a lily. That chain disappeared at the time of the little 
duchess’ disappearance. 

Princess. How interesting, and how sad! 

Prince. Yes, it is both. Here comes Caterina, with the 
children who are our guests. 

Children enter and how low to the Prince and 
Princess. 

Caterina. This is Clotilde, Princess. Her father is a 
soldier, and she lives in the biggest house in the village. 
This is Bettine. Her father is a wood chopper, and she 
lives in the next biggest house. This is Cleo. She has 
no father. Her mother picks up sticks in the forest. 
Hildegarde lives with her. Hildegarde is only a charity 
child. [Caterina draws away her dr ess ^ and looks scorn¬ 
fully at Hildegarde, who looks timid and shy.] 

Bettine [goes to Hildegarde and puts her arms around 
her]. But Hildegarde is the nicest of all of us, your 
Highness. You should hear her sing, and tell us stories. 
There isn’t a sweeter or dearer girl in the whole village! 

Princess. We are glad that you came to our birthday 
party, and I hope that you all will have a good time. 
Perhaps Hildegarde will be willing to sing to us later. 


HILDEGARDE LILIAN 


121 


Hildegarde [dropping a low curtsy]. Indeed I will, if it 
will bring happiness to your Highness, although I am 
not able to sing as well as I would like. 

Caterina. I can sing, too. I can sing well. I have taken 
lessons from a real music master. [Sings.] Do me sol do, 
do ti la sol, fa mi re do. I’ll sing for you, too. 

Clotilde. But now let us give the princess our gifts. 

Caterina [handing a hig box]. Here is mine. See how big 
it is! I am sure you will like it. [Shows rich shawl.] 

Princess. I thank you, Caterina. It is very lovely. 

Caterina. I thought you would like it. Now Clotilde, 
show us what you have brought to the princess. 

Clotilde. It is not much, your Highness. Just a little 
thing I made for you, but there is love in every stitch. 
[Holds up a crochetted scarf.] 

Princess. I love it, Clotilde, and it is worth much more to 
me just because you made it. Bettine, you have a very 
interesting looking bundle there. 

Bettine. It is a plant, your Highness. Some one gave 
me a slip of it long ago, and I have taken such care of it. 
I do hope you will like it. [Offers plant.] 

Princess. I do, Bettine. It is beautiful. 0 Cleo 1 What 
a perfectly beautiful basket! You made it yourself, I 
know. 

Cleo. Yes, your Highness, but wait till you see Hilde¬ 
garde’s present. She has the loveliest thing of all. 

Caterina. I don’t believe it is lovelier than mine. 

Cleo. Wait until you see it, Caterina. It is the one nice 
thing Hildegarde has. 

Princess. And you brought it to me? 

Hildegarde. Yes, your Highness, it was the only thing I 
had worthy of giving to a princess. It used to be my 
mother ’s. 

Princess [opens parcel] . Oh! ’Tis the lost duchess’ chain. 
Look, Roland! 


122 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Prince [excitedly]. Yes, the duchess’ chain. [To Hilde- 
GARDE.] Where did you get it? 

Hildegarde. I—I—It was sewed into the hem of my robe. 
It was left with me at the home of Mother Maria when I 
was a wee baby. 

Princess [putting her arm about Hildegarde]. Dear Hil¬ 
degarde, you must be the Duchess Hildegarde Lilian who 
was stolen away from home when she was a little baby. 
Why, Hildegarde, you must be our very own cousin! 

Prince [with feeling]. You gave yourself to us when you 
gave my sister the chain. 

Princess. The very best Christmas present in all the 
world! [Embraces Hildegarde.] 

Cleg. The old woman was right about the golden chain. 
You have brought yourself great good fortune, Hilde¬ 
garde. 

Princess. You have brought good fortune to all of us, 
dear Hildegarde. 


—Rebecca Rice 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ RECEPTION 


123 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ CHRISTMAS 
RECEPTION 


CHAKACTERS AND COSTUMES 


Mrs. Santa Claus .... large girl wearing a white dress, r&d 
cape and hood 


Bob, eight years old . 

Jim, six years old . 

Dot, nine years old . 

Ruth, six years old . 

Jessie, Betty, Marion, John. . 


.children 


Holly . 

Evergreen . 
Mistletoe .. 
Laurel .... 

POINSETTIA . 


fairies, wearing white 
dresses trimmed with 
sprays or flowers of the 
names they are known 
hy, and carrying wands. 


For a little girl fairy, a white dress foundation may be further 
embellished by tinsel, red Japanese fiber rope, and crepe paper ruffles. 


Trip . 
Speed 
Fleet 
Flip . 
Skip . 


brownies, wearing fancy 
caps of crepe paper in 
the Christmas colors 
with arm-hands and 
streamers. 


Good Will. .. .a large girl wearing white dress and crown 
with tinsel trimming. 


Act I. Ordinary living room. 
Act II. Mrs. Santa’s workshop. 


It is a simple matter, with the moving of the furniture and the addi¬ 
tion of a few greens and toys, to make Mrs. Santa Workshop out 
of a plain interior. 



















124 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Act I 

Discovered: Dot reading; Bob flat on his stomach on 
the floor writing; Jim and Ruth bouncing a hall, a kitten 
in Dot’s lap. 

Dot [looking up]. What are you doing, Bob? 

Bob. Oh, I’m writing a letter to Santa Claus. Don’t bother 
me. 

Ruth. Santa’s coming! 

Jim. Don’t you s’pose I know it? I want a ball, a Teddy 
and a candy cane so long. [Measures with hands.] 

Ruth. I want a live doll, a hair ribbon, and a new little 
kitten with blue eyes. I want some clothes to dress her 
up in, too. 

Dot. What do you want of a new kitten when we have 
Dolly? She does need some new clothes, though. 

Ruth. I want a kitten as big as that. [Shows size.] I’d 
like a pink dress and a new apron, too. 

Bob. I am asking for a sweater, skates, and a toboggan. 
How do you spell toboggan. Dot? 

Dot. T-a-b-a-g-u-n. That’s the way 1 spell it. I want a 
sewing-basket, a school-bag and a new coat with a squirrel 
collar. 

Bob. What I can’t understand is, how a man can make 
doll clothes, sweaters and such stuff. I can’t believe that 
he does it! 

Dot. Yes, you can understand how he makes doll houses, 
sleds and things that are put together with glue and 
nails, but sewing! Imagine papa sewing! 

Ruth. Papa can’t even thread a needle, ’cause I asked him 
once and he said, ‘ ‘ Go ask mother. ’ ’ 

Betty [running in, followed hy Jessie and Marion]. O 
Jessie, Marion and I have found out the most exciting 
thing! Santa Claus is married! 

Dot [springing up, dropping hook and kitten]. Married! 
Santa married! 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ RECEPTION 


125 


Jessie. Yes, and it is Mrs. Santa Claus who makes all the 
presents for the boys and girls that take needle and 
thread. She makes sweaters and mittens, too. 

Bob. I never heard of her before. 

Ruth. Neither did I. 

Jim. Nor I. 

Marion. And Santa gets all the thanks, for nobody knows 
about Mrs. Santa. 

Dot. I don’t think that is fair. 

Jessie. Oh, let’s do something for Mrs. Santa Claus this 
year! 

All. Great! Yes! Lets! 

Betty. But what shall we do ? 

Dot. Oh, I know. Let’s have a party for her and speak 
pieces. 

Bob. Let each one of us do something for her. 

John [entering with small Christmas tree]. Here is a 
little Christmas tree. I brought it for us to decorate for 
Santa Claus. 

Jessie. Oh, let’s have it for Mrs. Santa Claus this year. 

All. Yes! Good! Let’s tell mother! [Exeunt AijIj.] 
Enter four Fairies, two from each side. They run up 
and curtsy to their partners, adapting to the tune of 
Come Back, Sweet May.* 

Fairies [sing]. 

Dance up and greet your partner, 

Dance up and greet your partner, 

Dance up and greet your partner. 

For we are fairies gay. 

Clasp hands and dance together. 

Clasp hands and dance together. 

Clasp hands and dance together, 

For we are fairies gay. 

*Page 57, New Common-School Song Book. 



126 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


For the second verse they cross hands with partners.^ skip¬ 
ping in a circle. Then they join hands in a circle. 
PoiNSETTiA skips in and out the arches as the third 
verse is sung, reaching the middle of the circle on the 
last line. 

Dance in and out the circle, 

Dance in and out the circle, 

Dance in and out the circle. 

For we are fairies gay. 

PoiNSETTiA runs out; the others seat themselves on the 
floor. 

Holly. Well, here we are, after a long month’s absence! 
What have you been doing. Mistletoe? 

Mistletoe. I have been flying over north and south, find¬ 
ing out what the children want in their stockings. What 
have you done. Laurel? 

Laurel. I have been gathering supplies for the Brownies 
to take to our gentle mistress, Mrs. Santa Claus. They 
are coming soon. What have you been doing. Evergreen ? 

Evergreen. I have gone into the hearts of mortals with 
the Spirit of Christmas. I have put generosity into the 
hearts of the rich and content into the hearts of the poor. 
And you, dear Holly? 

Holly. I have gone everywhere, whispering the glad 
Christmas story, bringing love and cheer into the homes 
of rich and poor. How good it is to be together once 
more. Soon we shall see our sweet mistress, whose bid¬ 
ding we carry out. How I love her 1 

Mistletoe. So do I! But how sad it is that those she 
loves so dearly know nothing about her! 

Laurel. Yes; she won’t let us tell them. Hark! Here 
come the brownies. 

Speed. Ho! Fairies! You here already? 

Holly. Yes, we have beaten you. 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ RECEPTION, 


127 


Fleet. You would not have beaten us if we had not had 
to get cedar wood to make a sled for Jimmie Perkins. 
Where is Good Will? 

Good Will [entering]. Here I am, my children. How 
pleasant to be all together again! 

Fairies rise and sing, adapting words to the tune of Hol¬ 
land Song.* 

Fairies ^ 

A welcome to you, 

A welcome to you. 

With gay Christmas greeting! 

We fairies are meeting— 

A greeting to you. 

We welcome you too! 

Holly. Shall we see you at the Christmas reception to¬ 
night ? 

Good Will. Wherever you find a Christmas gathering. 
Good Will will be there. I am everywhere in the hearts 
of the lovers of Christmas. 

Evergreen. What a pity it is that Santa himself cannot 
be at the reception. 

Laurel. This is his busy night. Why, he must travel all 
over the world, from India to Canada and from Canada 
to [names town]. This is Mrs. Santa’s party. 

Good Will. Hark! I hear the children coming. Let us 
hide, but listen to all they have to say. 

Dot [entering with Bob] . Who is going to write this letter 
to Mrs. Santa Claus, you or I ? 

Bob. Oh, you! I can’t spell well enough. 

Dot. All right. What shall I say ? 

Bob. ‘‘Dear Mrs. Santa Claus—” 

Dot. “We are going to have a party for you to-morrow 


*Page 169, New Common-School Song Book. 



128 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


night. We hope you will come. We didn’t know that 
there was a Mrs. Santa before.” 

Bob. Aw, no, that’s no good—well, just sign it, ‘^With 
lots of love. The Children.” 

Dot. It’s all right. But how shall we send it? 

Bob. Mercy! How should I know? You don’t suppose 
the mail man would take it? 

Dot. No, grown folks never know about such things. 

Good Will [coming out of hiding-place]. Dear children, I 
will guide you to Mrs. Santa’s Christmas reception this 
very night. She will be very glad to see you, for she 
loves you dearly. [Exit, leaving the children in open- 
mouthed wonder.] 

Bob. Was it a fairy ? 

Dot. It must have been a fairy, with that lovely white 
dress and crown. It must have been. 

Bob. She said she would show us the way to Mrs. Santa’s 
Christmas reception. How nice that will be! We must 
tell the other children. 

Dot. Don ’t you tell the grown-ups. 

Bob. I should say not! They’re always spoiling things. 

Enter Jim. 

Dot. Do you know your piece for Mrs. Santa Claus? 

Jim. ’Course I do! So does Ruth. Here she comes. 

Ruth. Mamma says that you must come straight to bed. 
She says, ‘‘Right off.” 

curtain 
Act II 

Discovered : Mrs. Santa Claus sewing on an apron, bites 
off thread, shakes apron, folds it and puts it in her bag. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. There! the last present is finished, and 
the bags are packed for Santa Claus to take to the chil¬ 
dren. How happy they will be on Christmas morning! 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ RECEPTION 


129 


And how tired I am, too tired even to pick up my snip¬ 
pets ! I will rest for a few minutes and then pick them 
up in time for the fairy reception. [She leans head on 
hand and closes eyes.] 

Enter Poinsettia and Trip on tiptoe. 

PoiNSETTiA. See, she is sleeping! 

Trip. Shall I awaken her? > 

Poinsettia. No, let her sleep while she can. How late it 
is getting! The fairies will soon be here, and what a 
looking place—all snippets! 

Trip. Shall we pick them up ? 

Poinsettia. Yes, let’s! How tired she must be! She has 
worked ever since last Christmas, making dolls’ clothes. 

Trip. The fairies are coming. 

Enter Fairies, carrying garlands of evergreen. 

They may sing a lullaby. 

Holly. I think I hear the brownies coming. 

Evergreen. So do I. We would better waken her. 

Poinsettia. Throw your evergreen garlands about her. 
That will waken her. 

Evergreen throws garlands. 

Mrs. Santa [rubbing her eyes]. It must be time to pick 
up my snippets. But where are they ? Surely there were 
snippets and snippets of red, green and yellow, all over 
the floor! 

Fairies laugh and crowd about her. 

Mrs. Santa. Oh, I see! Which of my good little fairies 
or brownies has been helping me? 

Laurel. It was Poinsettia and Trip. They were here when 
I came. 

Mrs. Santa. Thank you, my dear little friends. But what 
is that I hear? 

Poinsettia. It is the brownies. 

Enter Brownies. 


130 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Flip. Here we are, Mrs. Santa! All our work is done, 
and now for a good time I 

Holly [recites]. 

A little sprig of holly. 

Symbol of good cheer, 

A token of my wishes, 

I bring you, lady dear. 

[Speaks.] Dear lad}^, I have hunted over land and sea 
to find something to show my love and devotion. I am 
bringing you my prettiest sprig of holly, the emblem of 
good cheer and the Christmas Spirit. Accept it with 
my love. 

Holly hands spray of holly to Mrs. Santa. 

Mrs. Santa. Thank you, dear Holly. May your life be as 
bright as this holly sprig. 

Mistletoe [recites]. 

Every one loves me. How do I know? 

Every one loves the mistletoe; 

With countless good wishes. 

And numberless kisses— 

Accept them both from Mistletoe. 

Mistletoe [hands a spray of mistletoe to Mrs. Santa Claus 
and kisses her]. And I, dear lady, have brought my 
emblem of love, the mistletoe, beloved by youths and 
maidens. Accept my love token. 

Mrs. Santa Claus. My good little fairy I And you, dear 
Evergreen ? 

Evergreen [sings or recites]. 

From the forest, ’neath the pine trees,* 

Covered by the ice and snow, 

Covered by the pine tree’s needles, 

There the evergreen doth grow! 


MRS. SANTA CLAUS’ RECEPTION 


131 


I have gathered heaping armfuls, 

Twined them into garlands rare, 

Fresh and lovely from the forest 
Brought to deck our lady fair. 

[Speaks.] I bring the symbol of everlasting joy and 
life. May your work become dearer and your happiness 
more complete, as the years slip by! 

Mrs. Santa. I thank you, dear Evergreen, for your gift 
and for your good wishes. And you, little Laurel ? 

Laurel [sings or recites]. 

Laurel from the hillside. 

Green throughout the year, 

Cheer all hearts in winter, 

I bring you, lady dear. 

Green leaves for victory 
Over winter’s cold; 

Symbol of endurance— 

Its message has been told. 

[Speaks.] I bring a wreath of my favorite laurel, and 
my love, dear mistress. 

PoiNSETTiA [recites]. 

And here is my gift, Mrs. Santa, 

’Tis red as the Christmas flame. 

And it holds the Christmas spirit; 

Poinsettia is its name. 

Mrs. Santa. My fairies are very good to me. And here is 
Good Will. 

Evergreen. And the children. 

Enter Good Will followed hy Bob and Dot. 

Mrs. Santa. Welcome, Good Will! Where did you find 
these children, and why do you bring them to me? 

Bob [running forward and grasping Mrs. Santa’s cape]. 


132 


LITTLE PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS 


Oh, weVe found you out, Mrs. Santa Claus, and well 
never let you get away from us again. 

Dot. No, never! For we love you, Mrs. Santa! Donl 
we. Bob? 

Bob. We do! 

Dot. We have learned a Christmas poem for you, Mrs. 
Santa. Bob’s is a long one. He doesn’t like to learn 
poems very much, either. But he did it for you. 

Bob. Go on! Neither do you. Miss Dot! But she has 
learned a good one for you, Mrs. Santa. 

Mrs. Santa. I want to hear them both. 

Dot recites her piece, [/f may he any verses suitable to 
the occasion.] 

Mrs. Santa. That is a lovelv poem. And you have one, 
Bob? 

Bob recites piece. 

Enter Jim and Ruth, hearing a decorated Christmas tree 
about a foot high. 

Jim and Ruth [recite together]. 

I dearly love the apple tree. 

It gives us apples sweet. 

And oranges and cherries 
Are very nice to eat. 

And plums, dates, figs and peaches 
All come from lovely trees. 

But the tree that blooms on Christmas 
Is better far than these. 

Enter other children and a program of songs and recita¬ 
tions is carried out. The play ends with a tableau. 


—Rebecca Rice 


BOOKS AND HELPS FOR TEACHERS 

A specially selected list of books and helps which have 
become popular because of their practical value. There 
are few teachers indeed who have not been helped by 
one or more of these publications. We unhesitatingrly 
reeommend every one of the titles offered. 


DRAWING 

Easy Thiiigs to Draw—'Augsburg...$ 0.45 

SEAT WORK 

\ 

Primary Sea. Work, Sense Training and Games—Smith.$0.85 

Primary Sewing and Color Cards—Cleaveland : No. 1, Animal 
Series; No. 2, Fairy-Tale Series; No. 3, Children-of-the- 


World Series. Each set. .25 

Straight-Line Sewing Cards—Cleaveland.25 

PENMANSHIP 

Muscular Movement Writing Slips...$0.15 


ARITHMETIC 


Moody Number Games—Moody. Series 1.$0.85 

Moody Number Games—'Moody. Series ,2.85 

Number Games for Primary Grades—Harris-Waldo.85 

Number Stories—Deming . 85 

LANGUAGE. GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION 

Games and Rhymes for Language Teaching in the First Four 

Grades—Deming .$0.85 

Language and .Composition by Grades—Hammond. 1.00 

Language Games for All Grades—Deming—Book only.80 

With Cards . 1.2C 

One Hundred Stories for Reproduction—Grove.30 

Primary Language Stories—Deming.SC 


MUSIC 


Best Primary Songs—Kellogg.$0.2t 

Merry Melodies—Hanson.20 

New Common-School Song Book—Smith-Schuckai. .70 

Silvery Notes—Hanson.20 

Songs We Like Best.....15 

Weaver’s New School Songs—Weaver.3C 


OPENING AND GENERAL EXERCISES 

Best Memory Gems—Sindelar._.. 

Morning Exercises for All the Year—Sindelar. 

CLASS RECORDS 

Simplex Class Record—Cloth. 

Paper. . 

Simplex Seat Plan (with Cards). 


$0.30 

l.OC 


$0.50 

.35 


Illustrated Catalog of Books mailed free upon request. 


BECKLEY-CAEDY COMPANY,Pttftlts/tm.CHICAGO 


































OTHER CHRISTMAS MATERIAL 


THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

By Joseph C. Sindelar 

Here is a wealth of new ideas, and a complete program for everyone. Con¬ 
tains 82 recitations, 36 quotations, 4 monologues and readings, 10 dialogues, 
e^roises and plays, 8 original songs with music, 6 songs qf new words to old 
tunes, 10 fancy drills and motion songs. 5 tableaux, 4 pantomimes and pantomimed 
songs. 14 facts regarding Christmas, 

192 pages, illustrated. Price, 40 cents. 

CHRISTMAS AT STEBBINSES’ 

By Marie Irish 

A Christmas comedy in two scenes, for five male and five female charac¬ 
ters. Time, thirty minutes. Scene, an easy interior. A humorous play 
with considerable of the Christmas spirit. Price, 25 cents. 

SUSAN GREGG’S CHRISTMAS ORPHANS 

By Marie Irish 

A Christmas comedy in two acts, for seven male and five female charac¬ 
ters, and as many more as may be desired. Time, thirty minutes. Scenes, 
a street and a living room, easily arranged. What happened in response 
to an advertisement signed “Lonely”. Price, 25 cents. 

NEW COMMON-SCHOOL SONG BOOK 

By Laura Rountree Smith, Arthur Schuckai and others 

Has 49 songs for special days, among which are nine Christmas songs 
and three New Year songs. 174 large pages. Boards. Price, 70 cents. 

FANCY CALENDAR PADS 

Decorated and printed in colors. Price, per dozen pads, 12 cents. 

BLACKBOARD STENCILS 


The deeians vary in atze aeeordina <o the demands of the snbjeota, but 
a larie proportion of them are approximately 24x36 inehes. large enough 
ta be clearly seen acrosa any aohoolroom* Order by nnmbei—not necea- 
aary to give names. Direotiona for uae atamped on each deaign. 

Price, each 5 cents; 6 for 25 cents. 


623 December Calendar 

624 January Calendar 

378 “Merry Christmas’’ (lettered) 

380 “Happy New Year’’ (lettered) 

381 “Peace on E»rth, Good Will 

Toward Men” (lettered) 

645 Christmas Star Border 
660 Holly Border 
561 Mistletoe Border 
#62 Poinsettia Border 


700 Jolly Santa Claus 

701 Santa Claus and Sleigh 

702 Bringing in the Christmas Tree 

703 Christmas Tree 

704 Dancing ’Round the Tree 

705 The Star in the East 

706 The Wise Men 

708 The Little Santa Claus 

709 Birds’ Christmas Dinner 


Send for Complete List of About 500 Subjects, Free/ 


GUMMED CHRISTMAS SEALS 


Richly printed in Christmas colors and gold, and gummed. Christmas 
bell, holly, Santa Claus, and poinsettia. Packed 50 seals of one design in 
cardboard box. Price, per box, 10 cents, per dozen boxes, $1.00. 

CHRISTMAS CARDS AND LEAFLETS. 

Ranging in price from 15 cents per ten to 80 cents per ten. Send us 
amount you wish to invest and we will make a good selection, or write 
for complete catalogue. 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY. CHICAGO 


.■/•IS 


H 197 75 I 




















<r, 'T' 

<iy 

. -.. *' .CT O 'o.‘, 

S' ■^o 

0 ° ■i' 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 


• Neutralizing agent; Magnesium Oxide 
^ f ^ Treatment Date: Dec. 2007 


PreservationTechnologies 

H A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 


111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



InvP * 

kJ^ ^ ^ ^ < 

o 'o. * - A. 

^O A^ C » " ® ^ 

♦ r-C*V^v\V ^ 

• 0 

’ O^ "^U '^ • • ’ '» 



9 $i 0 



,* 0 "^ “V 
• - ® <0 

.. <9 ,1 ^ , 

A*^ *•/^^^»• 

^0^^/ -'i<\¥/!>."o 



A <C 

^~> A ^ 0 ® " ® -» 0^ 

• • 

t> cv 



^*1°^ 

c‘^'^ * 

‘f// ss \\v ^ ^ ^ ^ 


o • A 


. / # 



A <. "- 7 ;*" -0" o 

o « O ^ ^ qV , t » • ^ 

o V . ^ 0 ^ 



o • A 



K^ iT^ 

O > 


aOv". 40 . 

,.0’* 0 '^ '^^^ ‘‘••-•’\^^ % 

^((C\»«Ai^o • '^ A ^ tcCvsR/^'o 

^*7^ ^v^EEte^l •AW^^^z/Ao 






“ -* 


AFE TTSr 


N. MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 



o o 

^‘^'V \ 

' • -» ^ A c -fr 0^ 

-c A <> 

o • "^0 ♦ 





U'. 
















